






























































































































































































































































\ 


X 
























HAROLD GODWIN 


A SOCIAL SATIRE 


BY 


W. DE HUGER. 

7 (, 




UZ 4TTKS 


(Copyright 1900, by J. S. Ogilvib Publishing Company.) 
All Rights Reserved. 




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NEW YORK : 

J. S. OGILVIE PUBLISHING COMPANY* 
67 Rose Street. 

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3580 


TWO COPIES KECE 1 VEO, 

Library of Congrhi* 
Office o f the 

JUN 8 - 1900 


Register of Copyright* 


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SECOND COPY, 


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PREFACE 


The author submits the facts of this modern story, 
substantially as they have come to him, from the nar- 
rative of many, living witnesses, and correspondence 
still in the possession of “ Pauline ; ” and without alter- 
ation, or embellishment, they are gathered together in 
these pages and submitted. 


THE AUTHOR. 






CONTENTS 


CHAPTER I page 

SUB NUBIBUS g 

CHAPTER II 

SUB ROSA II 

CHAPTER III 

BEFORE DINNER 17 

CHAPTER IV 

THE BANQUET 20 

CHAPTER V 

WILLY 30 

CHAPTER VI 

AT THE OPERA 35 

CHAPTER VII 

THE ENGAGEMENT 42 

CHAPTER VIII 

THE SOCIAL GUARDIAN 46 

CHAPTER IX 

THE MISSION 14 

CHAPTER X 

THE INTERVIEW 59 

5 


6 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER XI page 

THE ISLAND 7* 

CHAPTER XII 

THE VISION 75 

CHAPTER XIII 

THE SPANISH WILL 8o 

CHAPTER XIV 

HIDDEN TREASURE «... 87 

CHAPTER XV 

A STRANGE DEMISE * 94 

CHAPTER XVI 

SOCIETY PREPARED . ... 102 

CHAPTER XVII 

THE WEDDING U3 

CHAPTER XVIII 

CORKS SWIM 127 

CHAPTER XIX 

AT DUNDY CASTLE I 4 0 

CHAPTER XX 

THE QUEEN'S RECEPTION 152 

CHAPTER XXI 

THE RETURN VOYAGE 165 

CHAPTER XXII 

RESTORED TO THE SEA 171 


HAROLD GODWIN 


CHAPTER I 

SUB NUBIBUS 

“ John, where is the young master ? ” 

“I don’t know, Mr. Larkins; nobody ever knows 
where the young master is. We got a telegram from 
him that he would be here to-night or to-morrow night, 
but he might change his mind you know, and not be 
here for a month.” 

“John,” resumed Mr. Larkins, “you have been a 
very faithful servant to the Godwin family ; your youth 
was spent in the service of the elder Godwin and now 
you devote your life to the service of the younger.” 

“ Yes, Mr. Larkins, the young master is the apple of 
my eye. I used to carry him in my arms when he was 
nothing but a baby. He is the finest, noblest gentle- 
man that ever lived and when he is out of my sight I 
am never happy. I would be with him now if I only 
knew where he is. Nothing but death will ever end the 
service I owe him.” 

“ In return for your confidence, John, I will tell you 
that young Mr. Godwin’s affairs are in a very bad 
shape, and that the magnificent estates, including this 
valuable mansion, with its demesnes, are all about to 
be swallowed up by enormous expenditures and mort- 
gages.” 


9 


10 


HAROLD GODWIN 


“ Is that so? Well, it don’t make any difference. 
Whatever Mr. Harold does is right. I know, he don’t 
care anything about expenses and he’d just as soon give 
away a mansion as a barn. It is his and he has a right 
to do as he pleases with it, and as long as he don’t drive 
me away from him, but will let me follow his footstep^ 
I am happy and content.” 

The speakers in the above dialogue were standing in 
front of a mansion, palatial in size, and magnificent in 
its appointments. From the top of the broad and lofty 
marble steps on which they stood, an unsurpassed view 
of the Potomac river was presented. Autumn had al- 
ready begun to paint with varied colors the foliage of 
the forest, and the descending sun sent its declining 
rays tranquilly along the broad bosom of the placid river 
below. 

Larkins stood gazing at the lovely scene as he re- 
marked, “ The beautiful tinge of autumn is the fore- 
runner of the death of winter. Thus gracefully does 
Nature protect her children from the asperity of her own 
inexorable laws; even the coming of death is made 
graceful and inviting by the gorgeous hues of evanes- 
cent life.” And with a parting salutation he strode 
away. 


CHAPTER II 


SUB ROSA 

Mr. Godwin had arrived at home. The young, the 
fair, the beautiful, had come with him. The great man- 
sion was ablaze w.ith lights from foundation to turret. 
Well trained servants passed and repassed along the 
halls and stairways. The numerous guest rooms ex- 
haled the odors of the terrestrial fair. The rustle of 
silks and satins, echoes of suppressed laughter and 
sweet whispers, were the sprites that traveled with the 
pleasant waves of sound through the gala corridors; 
also might be heard now and then bars from some opera, 
broken upon by laughter fully as musical and sweet, 
and strains from a stringed instrument throbbing its 
harmonies of suppressed emotion. The atmosphere 
was redolent with sweet intoxicating suggestions more 
warm and sensuous than the aromatic gales that blow 
from the coasts of Arabia. 

In one of the suites that bordered on this fragrant- 
scented ambulatory, might be seen at this time a vision 
of wondrous beauty. Reclining nonchalantly in a 
somewhat high chair, a wealth of golden hair fell in 
lustrous wavelets from her shoulders, and as her maid, 
who was engaged in brushing and arranging it, turned 
and re-turned the lovely masses, a thousand varying 
hues glanced in the changing light with every delicate 
angle of incidence. 

“ Aimee,” she said to her maid, “ I wonder why 
Harold does not come. He always says I am lovely in 
deshabille.” 

“ I don't know, mademoiselle, but I notice he has not 
visited your private apartments since we came.” 
ii 


12 


HAROLD GODWIN* 


“ So have I noticed it. I suppose it is some notion, 
some singular idea, that is controlling him. Perhaps it 
is some picture in this room that has some peculiar 
reverence in his estimation that precludes the display of 
any levity in its presence.” 

“ Maybe it’s some recollection,” suggested Aimee. 
“ This, they say, is his old home, built by his fathers 
and his forefathers, and Mr. Harold has such queer 
notions of propriety, even with you, the Aphrodite.” 

“ Propriety ! humph,” with an expressive shrug of the 
beautiful pink shoulders and a lovely pouting of lips, 
“ what has propriety to do with the rich, the young and 
the gay? Let age ape propriety, for fear of the next 
world, let poverty practice it because it is cheap and 
convenient, but give me life’s pleasures now, without 
the stint of propriety; let art, a delicate and well bred 
sense of refinement, be the only limits to present en- 
joyment. Say, Aimee, I wish Harold loved me one- 
tenth as much as I do him. I’d just give half of my 
life for the bargain.” 

“ Maybe he does,” answered Aimee. 

“ No,” replied Aphrodite, “ he doesn’t. He loves too 
many and all at one time. He is sweet and pleas- 
ant to every one of them.” 

“ He is sweet and pleasant to everybody,” said Aimee 
softly. 

Aphrodite’s brown eyes flashed fire as she said, “ I 
suppose you are in love with him too.” 

“ Oh,” lightly laughed Aimee, “Mr. Harold would 
scarcely look at me.” 

“ Oh, yes he would,” snapped Aphrodite, looking 
closely at her companion. “ You are young and pretty, 
and what’s more, innocent, and these three things are 
valuable gems in his eyes.” 

“ Mademoiselle will not be angry with me or look so 
cross at me. I did not say anything. Mr. Harold loves 
you, the beautiful Aphrodite, and so do I.” 

“ I believe you do/’ and the haughty beauty relented 


HAROLD GODWIN 


*3 


and put her arm around the girl’s neck and kissed her ; 
the next moment her head was on the girl’s breast and 
bright pearly tears were dropping from the long eye- 
lashes. 

“ Forgive me, Aimee, my miserable impulses made 
me jealous and rude to you.” 

“ Heavens ! Mademoiselle, these tears will ruin your 
eyes ! the fete will soon be ready and you must be queen 
of the gay. Heavens ! Heavens ! ” and the girl wrung 
her hands in unfeigned dismay, for it was the pride of 
her existence to perfect by every delicate touch and de- 
tail the dress and finish of her mistress. 

“ That’s true,” said Aphrodite, “ Aimee, you are a 
treasure. Tears have no place with the gay. Aimee, 
another glass of Chartreuse. Thanks. Kiss me, sweet- 
heart.” And she broke into song, clear, rippling and 
sweet as the tunes Ulysses heard on the Island of 
Circe. 

“ I love the merry sunshine bright, 

The silvery moon, with mellow light, 

Each every star, with hopeful ray, 

That bids the traveler on his way. 

All these I love, with every sight. 

But, oh ! I dread the dreary night. 

Drive night away, drive night away, 

With festive torch the monster slay, 

’Till day doth come with piercing ray 
And frights him from our world away. 

I love the day with joyous light, 

But, oh ! I dread the dreary night.” 

“ Oh ! what a lovely song,” said Aimee. “ So much 
like your own bright nature. But, Mademoiselle, par- 
don me, whence comes your name Aphrodite ? ” 

“ My name, child ? ” answered Aphrodite. “ Of 
course, you must know that like the mythical Aphrodite 
of old, I was found an infant floating on the waves of 
the sea. My parents perished in the shipwreck and I 
alone was left. My noble rescuer and subsequent guar- 
dian, now long deceased, gave me the name.” 


14 


HAROLD GODWIN 


“ How strange,” said Aimee. 

“ My venerated guardian,” continued Aphrodite, 
“ gave me every opportunity of travel and a generous 
education. He also carefully invested my own large 
inheritance, and added thereto his great wealth at his 
lamented death.” 

“ Wonderful,” replied Aimee. 

A light tap at the door intercepted further conversa- 
tion, and there entered a perfect bevy of beauties. 

“ Why, Pauline ! how radiant you look shimmering 
in green like the fairest daughter of Neptune,” cried 
Aphrodite, “ and you, Emile, blushing in your red cos- 
tume, you look as if your dressmaker had visited the 
Salamanders and borrowed some of their occult carmine 
for you, and you, oh Natalie! the groves of Florida 
have been distilled of their colors to achieve the perfect 
orange of your raiment, and behold here comes an- 
other, and another vision of beauty,” she continued, as 
more beauties entered the apartment. “ Welcome, all 
of you, goddesses all of you, sparkling stars in the con- 
stellation of beauty, I know New York is dark to-night 
without you. 

“ But, Aimee, how can I vie with these ? ” turning 
haughtily to her maid. 

“ You will be queen of all,” said the maid seriously. 

“Yes, Aimee is right,” said Pauline gaily, “you. 
Aphrodite, will be the queen of all.” 

“I don't know,” pouted Aphrodite, good humoredly, 
“ you are all sparkling with diamonds.” 

“ So will you,” said Aimee gently, and then sotto 
voce, “you will wear the diamond tiara Mr. Harold 
gave you.” 

“ And what's to be the programme of the hour ? ” in- 
quired Pauline. 

“ I don’t know,” said Aphrodite, “ I haven't seen 
Harold since he handed me from my carriage; but I 
suppose the usual perpetual round of splendid and de- 
licious pleasures — only more splendid and more de- 


HAROLD GODWIN 


15 

licious than ever before — because Harold delights in 
novelty in the art of pleasure/' 

“ Perry Delnot tells me/' said Pauline, “ that our 
band of blind musicians is here, so that means a Sub- 
rosial dance." 

“ Grand ! Grand " exclaimed Aphrodite, “ remember 
the last at our Newport cottage last summer, wasn’t 
that glorious ? " 

“Yes," said Emile, “when our little English duke 
was there." 

“ Wasn’t he a hun," said Pauline, “ when after sup- 
per he pirouetted on his silk hat and declared the eter- 
nal supremacy of America in all things ? " 

“ I remember," said Emile laughing, “ when he said 
the Argyle and the Jardin Mabille — that London and 
Paris were not in it." 

“ I should say not," said Aphrodite, “ such things 
are in the ordinary experience of human events. The 
Subrosial Association is not the product of ordinary 
circumstances. Our bond of union is love and the love 
of pleasure, not the vulgar sentiments of avarice or 
curiosity. Our queens might, had they chosen, have 
reigned in the legitimate spheres of usual society, in the 
ballroom and at the domestic hearth — but beauty, art, 
mad pleasure, have called, and w.e are the devotees of 
gaiety and love. We of a modern and advanced age 
have created a world of sumptuous enjoyment of our 
own, and call it, do we not, the Subrosial ? " 

“ Yes, said Pauline, “ it is your extraordinary genius 
for organization and love of pleasure, that has discov- 
ered each member and woven around all the silken 
bonds of the Subrosial Society whose intoxicating 
pleasures fill us with delight and you know sometimes 
with rhapsody." 

“ Why," said Aphrodite, “ should women be deprived 
of the equal privileges and enjoyments of men? Young 
men of our means and situation are not denied such en- 
tertainment as they seek, and we too propose to have 


HAROLD GODWIN 


10 

and do have the modern enjoyments of women as they 
like it, in the mode, manner and style we see fit. Isn't 
that right?" 

All echoed assent. 

Said Pauline, “ The modern woman of limited means 
is allowed to drudge side by side with men in factories 
and workshops, offices and clerkships; and we too as 
modern women of fashion and wealth claim to exercise 
our rights as independent women, yet side by side 
with our necessary partners in pleasure, in just such gay 
and extravagant dissipation as our tastes and desires 
may indicate. And whose concern is it ? " And she 
turned inquiringly to her fair sisters. 

“ No one's," was echoed in answer. 

“ Why, Pauline," said Aphrodite, “ you speak like a 
philosopher, like Aspasia, indeed, who long ago asserted 
woman's right to be as happy as man, and who by her 
own illustrious example made plain that virtue was not 
absolutely essential to female happiness, but occasion- 
ally a detriment." 

“ Yes," said Pauline, “ the glory of Aspasia survives 
even the slips of virtue and there is a wide difference 
between hideous vice and gorgeous, delicious, elegant 
pleasure." 


CHAPTER III 


BEFORE DINNER 

“ This is indeed a lovely place, Perry. ” 

“ Yes/' replied Delnot, “ the wealth of many genera- 
tions evidently contributed its quota unstintingly to 
the erection and finish of this palace; don’t you think 
it deserves the distinction of that title, Warren?” 

“ It certainly excels in extent and appointments 
many of the denominated palaces of Europe,” replied 
Warren. 

“ The great monuments of architecture are the legiti- 
mate product of not one but many ages, as our old pro- 
fessor used to inculcate, and it requires concentrated 
wealth for generations in the hands of the same family, 
or at least successive proprietors of equal taste and cul- 
ture, to produce the real palace.” 

“ You do not mean to discount as impossible those 
splendid piles constructed and being constructed at 
the present time in New York and elsewhere, do you? ” 

“ Yes, as final results I do, under the rule. The mel- 
low tint of protracted time is necessary to the grand 
final perfection of architecture. It is the blending of 
the mortal and the immortal, the ephemeral and eternal, 
the solemn past and the dignified present, that sheds 
a halo upon such structures, and these colors the grad- 
ual hand of time alone dispenses on the handiwork of 
man ; man may build but time must ripen into color and 
effect.” 

“ I believe you are right,” assented Warren, “ but 
will you gainsay America’s ultimate destiny in archi- 
tecture ? ” 

“ By no means,” replied Delnot, “ accept these great 
i7 


i8 


HAROLD GODWIN 


accomplishments as the first modern step, and to these 
magnificent and stupendous structures with the prog- 
ress of time and the accumulation of wealth, others 
more magnificent and stupendous, pile Pelion on Ossa 
in splendid and magnificent adjustment, and you have 
an idea of what America may do in the history of archi- 
tecture in the future. The palaces of the Vanderbilts, 
Huntingtons, Rockefellers, the Morgans and others, 
are but the beginning of the destiny of architecture in 
America as a distinct type; and even as our beloved 
country has overshadowed all others in the design and 
practice of public philosophy or government, so should 
it, in obedience to the extraordinary surrounding condi- 
tions of development, give an adequate and overshadow- 
ing expression of its history and achievements, beyond 
all others, in the enduring monuments of architecture.” 

“ My dear friend,” said Warren, “ your patriotism is 
confident and exalting. You well deserve your recent 
success in your candidacy for congress. The grave 


duties of a legislator will, I know, be nobly discharged 

>y 



a Thanks, Warren.” 

The young men, for both of them were young, were 
seated in one of the salons of the great mansion. Del- 
not was of medium height, with high forehead, frank, 
earnest expression, and large brown eyes, which could 
be soft or severe as occasion required. Warren was not 
so dark in complexion as his companion, a size larger in 
stature, and a person of most pleasing address and 
manner. 

“ Ah ! here come our other friends,” said Warren, 
as a party of gentlemen entered the apartment and soon 
formed a group extending congratulations and compli- 
ments. 

Harold Godwin, as he stood among his gay friends 
and guests, was the embodiment of ease, grace and nat- 
ural elegance. 

“I often think of the Apollo Belvidere when I see 


HAROLD GODWIN 


19 

Harold Godwin in his wonderful perfection of classic 
face and figure,” said Delnot to Warren. 

The two had just then resumed their seats, a little 
retired from the rest of the company. 

“ Yes,” said Warren, “ his features are essentially 
classic, and while they are clear cut and well defined, 
there is something indefinable about the contour that 
makes the lines melt into curves.” 

“ That indefinable something of which you speak is 
undoubtedly the everlasting ‘ harmony ’ of the an- 
cients that gives modulation and life even to the chiseled 
features of marble,” replied Delnot. 

“ No wonder the women adore him,” said Warren. 

“ In so doing, they cannot be criticized for not ex- 
ercising the most exquisite artistic taste,” answered 
Delnot. “ He is just my idea of a perfect figure. Tall, 
without seeming tall except by contrast with others, and 
the same elegant symmetry gives his every movement 
an equipoise that is full of grace and natural dignity.” 

“ Why, Delnot, you ought to have been an artist as 
well as a statesman.” 

“ Thank you, Warren, but I am not alone in my 
ardent admiration of our host.” 

“ No indeed, but your excellent discrimination an- 
alyzes, and diction describes, what we, his friends, de- 
light in, and the world extols.” 


CHAPTER IV 


THE BANQUET 

Oh ! it was a brilliant affair, that banquet. Spark- 
ling, flashing, scintillating beyond adequate description. 
Orion and Scorpion combined never glittered like the 
silver, gold and glass of that festive board. Gorgeous 
flowers and fragrant fruits gave varied color and ef- 
fect to the substance of sumptuous viands. The smok- 
ing flesh of wild game attested sacrifice to the God- 
dess of the Chase. Liquids of varied hues and ancient 
vintage were offered libations to the immortal Bacchus. 
Ceres was propitiated in pearly vegetables and sheaves 
of tender green ; Neptune had brought upon his trident 
the succulent flesh of the Cavalle; gems and diamonds 
flashed in the coiffures of the ladies ; and from all, from 
the assembled youth and beauty of nature arose an in- 
toxicating incense to the adorable Goddess of Creation. 

Such were the thoughts transpiring in the mind of 
the intellectual Delnot as he gazed upon the scene, 
wrapped in a delicious reverie. 

“ Come, wake up, Delnot. Why so silent, my orator. 
You whose flexible perceptions alone can discriminate 
the good and beautiful even through its more ques- 
tionable environments ? ” Thus spoke Aphrodite from 
her seat of distinction beside Harold. 

“ I am silent because sometimes silence is golden, as 
the old adage says. I was drinking in this beautiful 
scene/’ 

“ As usual, the poet and philosopher is selfish him- 
self, while he denounces the selfishness of others. You 
withdraw your own radiance that you may be a looker- 
on at the radiance of others. It will never do, my 


HAROLD GODWIN 


21 


friend. Pauline, Emile* bedew those flowers with the 
sparkling essence of wine and attar of roses, and dec- 
orate his brows with preliminary coronation, the laurels 
will wait.” 

“ Well,” replied Delnot, aroused, “ I will give you 
a question to solve. Which is the greater gift, a really 
magnificent voice like that of Pauline or Patti; or a 
really splendid intellect like that possessed by our great 
statesmen ? ” 

A pleasant shout of gay laughter met his interroga- 
tion. “ Why Perry,” said Emile, “ we thought you’d 
ask something really difficult.” 

“ It depends,” replied Delnot seriously, “ upon the 
position from which you view it.” 

“ Perry,” said Aphrodite, with an engaging grace, 
“ I leave it to Harold. Your question is not a question. 
There is but one point of view for the members of this 
Subrosial to take of it. Pleasure is the motto of our 
life, not usefulness. To be useful is to be coarse, vul- 
gar, and a slave to the world that uses and forgets, that 
becomes familiar with the greatness it subsequently 
scorns. But the gift of pleasing the lovers of pleasure 
is to become a part of the system of pleasure itself, and 
to have the devotion of those whose homage and affec- 
tion ends only with death. Apropos, Pauline, sing your 
song of the ‘ Bird and the Statesman.’ ” 

With a voice of compass, sweetness and culture that 
might well have won fame and fortune in grand opera, 
Pauline sang as follows: 

A bird sat on a tree one day, singing, singing, 

The summer's sun shone bright and gay, singing, singing, 

And all the world heard sweet the lay, singing, singing, 

And laughed and smiled and blessed the day, singing, singing. 

And winter came, the night wind sigh’d, singing, singing, 

In tones of sorrow woe betide, singing, singing, 

His grave was made, the bird had died singing, singing, 

In sorrow all the world replied, singing, singing. 


22 


HAROLD GODWIN 


A statesman stood beneath the tree, thinking, thinking, 

Of war and rout o’er land and sea, thinking, thinking, 

How great was his prosperity, thinking, thinking, 

And all the world said it is He— thinking, thinking. 

And winter came, the storm wind sigh’d, thinking, thinking, 

In tones of anger woe betide, thinking, thinking, 

His grave was made, the statesman died thinking, thinking, 
Forgotten, by the world belied, thinking, thinking. 

As the last of the sad tones died away, the company 
remained silent, dreaming, perhaps thinking. 

“ Come, Delnot,” said Warren, “ that fate shall not 
apply to you, and let us dissipate the spell of the en- 
chantress with the spell of the enchanter/’ and the cups 
were quickly filled to overflowing and soon as gaily 
quaffed. 

It was at this juncture that Harold arose to a stand- 
ing position. The sweet smile that characterized his 
expression was present, as ever, though his complexion 
appeared a trifle paler than usual. Gazing kindly on 
each and every one of his guests, he said, with great 
gentleness of tone and gesture : “ My friends, you do 
not know, perhaps, how could you imagine such a 
strange thing, but this is my last happy meeting with 
you. This is my last supper with you. And in suit- 
able recollection of the cherished event, I wish you to 
kindly accept as a slight souvenir of many happy occa- 
sions passed together, the little mementoes I would 
now hand you.” Suiting the action to the word, he re- 
moved by the handful from a jewelled box in his pos- 
session, many gems of rare and extraordinary beauty, 
solitary and connected, and placed them in a prepared 
receptacle of sandalwood at each one’s place. 

The gay effusion of the spirits of wine which had 
begun to possess the company was momentarily checked 
by the strange words and conduct of the speaker, as the 
attention of all was arrested. 

Harold continued, “ Have no fears of the justice of 


HAROLD GODWIN 


23 


my choice in this matter, nor connect with it any pain- 
ful suggestions of misfortune. On the contrary, my re- 
tirement is due to a fancied desire to pursue certain 
studies, a due attention to which forbids the charming 
pursuit of present pleasures/’ 

Delnot, who had long been astonished at the head- 
long precipitancy of magnificent extravagance that 
marked the career and every action of Harold God- 
win, had soundly conjectured the true cause which the 
sentimental nature of his friend concealed beneath the 
garb of science. 

“ But hold, my friend,” said Delnot, “ this must not 
be. These trinkets with which you deluge us are 
worth more than a Prince’s ransom — more than the re- 
demption of many mortgages. I am a sort of connois- 
seur of jewels. The necklace you are now so gaily 
fastening upon the neck of Aphrodite is antique and of 
Viennese origin and is of almost incalculable value.” 

“ Stay, Harold,” said Aphrodite, “ your fancies are 
my law, but I cannot consent to this,” gently disengag- 
ing herself. 

“We cannot, it is impossible,” came from others. 

“ Will you not, my friends ? Then they shall be cast 
into the flame, the ocean, or some devouring abyss 
whence they can never return. If my friends cannot ac- 
cept them, they shall perish forever from the face of the 
earth. They are my heirlooms, associated in the past 
with some wealth, splendor and distinction. Now that 
I shall bid farewell to the latter, the former must go 
with them. They cannot go better than to my friends as 
slight mementoes. They certainly cannot and shall not 
go the way of commerce. You would not have me put 
them up at auction, would you? The ghosts of my 
ancestors would haunt the purchasers,” he said with a 
smile. “ No,” he continued, “ this is the proper and 
only thing to do with them. Come, Aphrodite, let me 
replace this necklace.” 

There was no alternative but obedience. The gentle 


24 


HAROLD GODWIN 


insistence of his manner was too sincere for doubt or 
negation. Observing the momentary seriousness of his 
company, he raised to his lips a glowing, sparkling gob- 
let. “ Come, ladies and gentlemen,” he said, with a 
graceful gesture, “ drink with me.” He drank a trifle 
deeper. The eyes of all sparkled under the strange 
added excitement and each imbibed a little deeper. 
Each in turn began to feel an infection and the bowl 
flowed freely and faster but none were so gay as the 
young and handsome master of the tottering palace. 

And then Pauline’s sweet voice arose, singing: 

Farewell no more, ’twill not be said 
For who can part the soul’s belief 
That conquers death, survives the dead, 

And brings the breaking heart relief. 

“ Give back my child,” the mother weeps 
In plaintive accents loud and wild. 

“ He is not dead, he only sleeps,” 

An angel whispers, “ here’s your child.” 

“ Give back my spouse,” the mourner cried, 

“ Oh, who shall wrest my all from me.” 

“ No one but God,” the soul replied, 

“ And he’ll return your love to thee.” 

Then dry your tears, ’tis not farewell, 

Around you breathes the incense sweet, 

Of happy thoughts, that feel the spell 
Of love’s sweet soul, again to meet. 

By this time the glasses flowed freely and frequently. 
The table had been cleared except of the wines and 
flowers. The servants had withdrawn, and except the 
blind musicians, who occupied a portion of the con- 
servatory that entered upon the great dining hall, no 
one remained to disturb the entire privacy of the com- 
pany. 

“ I feel like doing something awful to-night,” said 
Aphrodite. 


HAROLD GODWIN 


25 


“ You cannot do anything awful,” said Delnot, grace- 
fully. “Jove was awful but Venus was beautiful. 
You might do something beautiful.” 

“ Pauline, are you not jealous at his compliments to 
me,” said Aphrodite to Pauline. 

“No, I think not, Aphrodite, so long as Harold is 
near us. The heart is a magnetic affair, quite affected 
by attractions from opposite directions. My Perry is 
safe while your Harold is near.” And the beautiful 
songstress imprisoned the statesman in her arms. 

The example set by Pauline and Perry became con- 
tagious and was gleefully followed by the others. The 
lights were slowly and imperceptibly dimmed and a 
warm and glowing twilight settled upon the scene, to 
the soft throbbings of the music. 

Then in the mellow light arose softly from all, as in 
a dream, the deep-sounding chorus: 

Sleep, sleep, fold your arms around me. 

Rest, rest, for your heart hath found me. 

Dream, ah, dream forever more, 

Leave, ah, leave me nevermore, 

Leave, ah, leave me nevermore, 

Traveler rest, all else forget, 

Pillow here the weary head. 

Forget the past and all your woes, 

On this bosom find repose. 

Chorus : Sleep, sleep, etc. 

Traveler, rest, thy journey’s done. 

Rest thee well, the morrow’s sun 
Shall not disturb thy blissful rest, 

Pillowed here, upon my breast. 

Chorus : Sleep, sleep, etc. 

As this song died away, the lights were still lowered. 
There appeared about the center of the table a weird 
figure, shrouded and motionless. In time a slight mo- 
tion was slowly apparent which gradually became more 


26 


HAROLD GODWIN 


pronounced, and by further degrees fantastic waves of 
form and color came to be suspended in the strange and 
mystic light. It was a combination of the real and un- 
real, in successive manifestations, a living, trembling 
picture, a moving statue, marble breathed into life, 
colors of the artist changing, rippling on the mellow, 
background. The low music reverberated more slowly 
or faster in response apparently to the vivacity of the 
scene or the languor of the graceful motions. At one 
moment was visible a living Proserpine escaping with 
fleet-footed haste from the dark regions of her angry 
lord, now looking back with terror on the dismal abodes 
of the condemned, now looking forward to the celestial 
heights of hope and life. 

In the next moment there flashed upon a rippling 
surface in the actual perfection of nature, the varying 
tints and agitated waters of the Laco di Como. The 
breath of the spectators came and went with gratified 
expectancy at every wonderful transmutation. At last 
the music became slower, the gloom grew deeper, the 
shrouded specter was once more silent and weird and 
seemed to return to the unknown shore from which it 
had so strangely emanated. “ It w.as Emile,” whispered 
Pauline to Delnot. 

Again in the mellow light passed and repassed the 
sparkling wine to lips that were moist and warm, to 
lips that mingled wine and lips. Again gayer and 
louder grew the music, again on flashed the lights with 
the radiance of most resplendent day. And then both 
lights and music slowly faded away to an almost im- 
perceptible and delicious gloom. 

In the dreamy quietude of this moment, the ladies 
silently and surreptitiously withdrew. 

“ Some new surprise,” thought the gentlemen as the 
ladies' presence was missed. 

Soon a weird and shadowy light — a seeming ignis 
fatuus, was seen slowly hovering about the hall, tending 
to lead in the direction of the shadowy arches of the 


HAROLD GODWIN 


27 

sumptuous drawing rooms beyond. At this time arose 
a clear sweet voice singing these words : 

The Will o’ the Wisp in woods so drear 
The traveler dreads to follow, 

It leads to nooks and crooks of fear 
On mountain or in hollow ; 

The huntsman trembles at the sight, 

The hermit fears the evil light, 

The peasant chatters with affright 
And all abhor the horrid sight. 

The Will o’ the Wisp, the Will o’ the Wisp, O ! 

This Will o’ the Wisp kind friends fear not 
It comes from beauty’s bower 
Its light is hallowed with the thought 
Of every joyous hour; 

So follow now with fearless eyes 
This vision of the midnight skies, 

Which leads you to a sweet surprise 
Nay, leads you to a grand surprise. 

The Will o’ the Wisp, the Will o’ the Wisp, 01 

The gentlemen thus elegantly admonished, slowly 
arose and followed the ignis fatuus to the grand arches 
of the drawing room. As they entered an astonish- 
ing surprise entranced their senses. 

With a crash of transcendent music and a startling 
blaze of light, there appeared amid fantastic decora- 
tions as upon a waving sea of flowers, the graceful 
forms of the ladies draped in the transparent gauzes of 
Goddesses of the Sea, and grouped as Nereids gleefully 
rejoicing to behold the birth of Aphrodite as she lan- 
guidly opened her beautiful eyes and supinely sprung 
from the white foam of the sea. 

The spectators stood enthralled by the ineffable 
beauty of the living spectacle. Then indeed was felt 
the superiority of Nature even to the chefs d’oeuvres 
of art. The most excellent forms and colors of marble 
and canvas are but cold imitations of the suffused 


28 


HAROLD GODWIN 


blood, the warm breath, the heaving besom, the spark- 
ling eyes and supple gestures of Nature’s life. The 
true artist fervently accepts and worships the true Pro- 
totype of Art. And thus the spectators were spell- 
bound and transported by the extraordinary presenta- 
tion. 

In time however, the smiles and eyes of the Nereids 
began to wander from the sea and their goddess to their 
adorers and worshipers of perfect art; and the living 
pictures unlike the chiseled Galatea, responded in the 
vital music of the human voice to the thoughts and 
sentiments of the human soul. 

“ Bravo,” cried the spectators ; “ Bravo Aphrodite. 
Bravo the Nereids.” 

It was then that Aphrodite arose from her recum- 
bent position and sprang forward among her gay 
companions. “ Come,” she said, “ the dance — the 
dance.” 

With the vigor and grace of a new born goddess she 
took her place by the side of Harold. Amid a gay 
storm of congratulations, each Nereid was received by 
her mortal lord. And then began the dance. 

The music laughed loud and gay to the most sug- 
gestive measures. With bewitching smiles of coquetry 
the Nereids performed famous genuflexions and ravish- 
ing postures. “ Bravo Aphrodite ; ” “ Bravo Pauline ; ” 
“ Bravo Emile,” “ Bravo all,” came from the dancers. 

The arms and shoulders of the dancers — the forms 
visible through vistas of gauze, appeared now encom- 
passed with a delightful and voluptuous glow. 

“ Bravo,” cried Delnot. “ Bravo, bravo,” came from 
the others. 

Louder and gayer grew the music and the measure. 
Louder and gayer grew the lively acclamations of the 
dancers. Both sexes were enraptured with the warmth 
and gaiety of the environments. Without pausing the 
overflowing cup was passed and repassed, and the acme 
of terpsichorean pleasure hovered just at the lips of the 


HAROLD GODWIN 


29 

voluptuary. The eye was tantalized, the passions asked 
for more. 

By this time the participants were in a perfect frenzy 
of delightful motion — in an ecstatic commixture of mas- 
culine strength and feminine voluptuousness. The 
senses were deliciously overwhelmed in the madness 
of the moment, the wine, the warm desires. The acme 
was reached. The music ended with a great crash. 
The lights fell into eclipse, and each transcendent quick- 
breathing beauty sunk voluptuously into the arms of 
her impassioned lover. 


CHAPTER V 

WILLY 

“ I am not happy and never shall be. I know I shall 
not.” 

“ I don’t know why Mademoiselle is not happy. She 
has everything in the world she could wish for. A 
palace to^live in, a boudoir like this — a dream, carriages, 
horses, servants, a magnificent income — and all her 
own, without gift from anyone or obligation to any- 
one.” 

“ Yes, Aimee, but there is a craving here for some- 
thing. In vain I try to find a substitute for my crav- 
ings and plunge into excesses in the hope of forgetting 
my longings, only to find on the return of my judgment 
that my desire is further removed from realization.” 

“ I know. Mademoiselle. You love Mr. Harold with 
all your great heart.” 

“ Everybody knows it,” cried Aphrodite, and placing 
her head on the shoulder of her maid, she burst into 
tears. 

Aimee comfortingly soothed the forehead of the 
sobbing sufferer, and with kind words and gentle ca- 
resses sought to alleviate the evident anguish of her 
mistress. 

“ Oh, Aimee, I am bad, very bad. I am positively 
ashamed of myself.” And she hid her face still deeper. 
“ I do such shocking things. All to please him, and yet 
not exactly that. He is not bad, vicious, no. I just 
get started upon some mad prank and I go too far. 
He never finds fault, but I probably shock him.” Then 
suddenly changing and lifting herself erect, the tears 
dashed away, and a firm expression upon her face, she 
30 


HAROLD GODWIN 


3 * 


said, “ and what if I do extraordinary things ? Whose 
concern is it but my own? Harold would not marry 
me if I were weighed out in diamonds, and more beau- 
tiful than Lady Hamilton. Lady Hamilton herself 
could not subdue his heart to true affection. The 
woman that he loves must be pure as the driven snow 
in thought and action.” 

“ I don’t know Lady Hamilton,” said Aimee, “ but 
I am sure she cannot be more beautiful than my mis- 
tress.” 

“ Lady Hamilton was a distinguished beauty of the 
past,” replied Aphrodite. “ Her beauty and intellect 
enslaved to her will some of the most remarkable men 
of her time, and thereby she became a potent factor even 
in the destiny of great nations. But her name, though 
brilliant, is tarnished ” — 

“ Even as the sun has spots upon its beautiful sur- 
face,” suggested Aimee. 

“ Like her,” said Aphrodite abstractedly, “ I have 
sat for Psyche and Innocence, but, unlike her, I have 
not yet brought unhappiness, disgrace or death upon 
any but my own heart.” 

At that moment was brought to Aimee, who handed 
it to her mistress, a carte de visite. Aphrodite glanced 
at it and quickly said, “ Aimee, I must be excused. Say 
that I am indisposed but will be pleased if he will call 
to-morrow or next day.” 

Upon Aimee’s return the maid said, “ Ah, Mademoi- 
selle, he was so polite and so sad ; he asked plaintively 
after your health and said he would be sure to call to- 
morrow.” 

“ Yes,” replied Aphrodite, “ he will surely call. I 
wish I possessed a better return for his unquestioning 
love and devotion than this preoccupied heart.” 

“ He is not graceful, like Mr. Harold, nor has his 
smile, nor so polished.” 

“ Of course not, but what matters, he brings to me 
his heart, full of pure young affection and offers that, 


HAROLD GODWIN 


3 * 

the noblest offering in man’s power. Why does fate 
annoy human experience by constantly offering the un- 
wanted and refusing the wanted? Give me a little 
Chartreuse, Aimee. I have a notion to accept Mr. Van- 
derwenter and make an end of this folly ; ” and then, 
with a pause, “ I have a notion not to. Hurry, Aimee, 
my Chartreuse.” 

The soft rustling of silk announced the approach of 
an angel and presently Pauline appeared, radiant and 
charming. “ Ah, your lips are sweet without Char- 
treuse,” said Pauline, “ and what flowers ! they are sim- 
ply magnificent,” referring to a basket on the center 
table. 

“ Yes, they are as handsome as any I ever saw,” re^ 
plied Aphrodite. 

“ May I ask who is the donor ? Though I can easily 
guess.” 

“ Who ? ” smilingly queried Aphrodite. 

“ Mr. Vanderwenter.” 

“ Why, how did you know ? ” 

“ All the world knows. Can any man in New York 
love the Aphrodite in dead earnest and not become a 
cynosure ? ” 

“ Now, isn’t that annoying. Can’t I have the sanc- 
tity and secrecy of a little love ? Is it true then, that the 
quiet and serene love granted the lowly flower, is for- 
bidden to the great oak whose protecting branches are 
exposed to every mighty storm ? ” This last was said 
in a serio-comic manner. 

“ Yes, you remember what Goldsmith says about 
love — 

" * On earth unseen, and only found 
to warm the turtle’s nest.’ ” 

“ But to return, Pauline,” said Aphrodite, “ has the 
world divined my true love affair ? ” 

“ Divined ? Why, he follows your footsteps like a 
faithful dog; waits on you at the opera, sends flowers 
from his mamma’s famous conservatory, names dogs 


HAROLD GODWIN 


33 


and horses without number, * Aphrodite/ has a yacht 
in construction of the same announced name, and, some 
say, stands at the corner of your avenue till every light 
in your house is darkened, and would write sonnets and 
sing them if he could. This is what the world says.” 

“ Truly his love is great. But he is simple to let the 
world know his business.” 

“ But, Aphrodite,” answered Pauline, “ he may be a 
very wise man according to Dryden : 

“ * Love never fails to master what she finds. 

Works different ways on different minds, 

The fool enlightens, and the wise she blinds/ ” 

“ I fear he is not a very wise man to be so trans- 
parent.” 

“ Nay, Aphrodite, it is your luminosity, not his trans- 
parency, that offends. The moth that flies within your 
radiance becomes notable, and his every action marked, 
under your reflected light. And now, what has become 
of Harold? 

“ I have neither seen nor heard of him since the night 
of the banquet at Hillstone,” replied Aphrodite. “ And 
though I have written notes and sent messages of in- 
quiry, I am unable to hear from him. Some fanciful 
notion of his to be temporarily absent somewhere.” 

“ I think Harold really meant what he said that 
night,” remarked Pauline. 

“ Surely not,” said Aphrodite, now quite concerned. 
“ Harold will not leave us. The conqueror will not 
abandon his conquest. His life has been a poem of 
pleasure.” 

“ Delnot hinted to me that Harold’s long-continued 
extravagance had at last reached the principal of his 
estate.” 

“ That circumstance,” said Aphrodite, “ should in no 
wise alter his life or send him into banishment. Before 
I would permit a consideration of that kind to affect 
Harold’s welfare and happiness, he should have half 


34 


HAROLD GODWIN 


my fortune, yes, all of it. I have been so thoughtless, 
so blind. I shall investigate this matter/’ 

“ Now, be careful, my friend,” said Pauline, “ or you 
will do still greater harm. Perry feels as you do about 
it, but says it will be impossible to approach Harold on 
the subject. Perry says that a man knowingly on the 
brink of ruin, who can give away a colossal fortune as 
Harold did the other night in obedience to a controlling 
sentiment, will be hard to approach, in fact will be im- 
possible to approach in the way of assistance.” 

Tears were now in the impulsive Aphrodite’s eyes. 
“ Oh, Pauline, what shall we do to save him ? I know 
you love Harold — we all do. And he loved you, too; 
yes he did.” And now she was sobbing and crying as 
she continued, “ often he spoke to me in praise of you 
in every way, and I was jealous. Forgive me Pauline, 
I was jealous of everyone that came near him or that 
basked in the light of his smile. Yes, Pauline, what 
shall we do to save him ? Think of him in reduced cir- 
cumstances, unable to dispense his magnificent hospi- 
tality, unable to indulge his royal generosity that del- 
uged his friends with affluent proofs of his- regard. 
Oh, the thought distresses me, the thought drives me 
mad; I cannot stand it. Aimee, Aimee, a little Char- 
treuse. No, I shall not endure it. Half of my fortune 
is his, nay, all of it, as freely as the gifts he showered 
upon us.” 

“ Noble girl,” cried Pauline, now affected to tears 
also, by the generous devotion of her friend. “ Noble 
Aphrodite! Indeed, the world cannot say he squan- 
dered his fortune among those who neither loved nor 
remembered him. My estates go with yours also, 
Aphrodite. But alas ! we are deceiving ourselves. 
Perry is right, the magnificent sentimentalist will, as 
Perry says, be magnificent in his adversity and disdain 
our offers.” 

“ He is an idiot,” said Aphrodite, now firm again, 
“ common sense is common sense.” 


CHAPTER VI 


AT THE OPERA 

Aphrodite's box at the opera was just opposite the 
family box of the Vanderwenters. The relation of the 
boxes might have had something to do with the relations 
of the occupants. Perhaps the first of Cupid’s darts 
that fired the heart of poor Willy was received from the 
direction of Aphrodite’s opera box, though when, if at 
all, she had never considered. Aphrodite was as regu- 
lar an attendant at grand opera as a worshipping muse 
could be. Her beautiful face and splendid figure had 
become a feature of expectation and comment as well 
with the audience and press as with the artists them- 
selves ; and many of the latter had enjoyed the personal 
gratification of her elegant hospitality and charming 
camaraderie. 

On this night she entered shortly before the rising 
of the curtain. Immediately upon her appearance in 
the front of her box, intently looking upon the concave 
aggregation of wealth and beauty, fashion and folly, 
there was a perceptible stir, a rustling murmur of soft 
sounds. Her perfect health, strength and beauty un- 
consciously attracted every eye within the influence 
of her presence. As she gazed upon the audience with 
an irrepressible smile of good humor, every man within 
its influence construed it specially for himself and even 
the women could not be insensible to the impression of 
large-hearted kindness of disposition. As she smiled, 
the audience looked up and became fascinated. The 
soft flutter arose to a murmur and then broke into a 
storm of applause. Aphrodite smilingly withdrew 
from the front of the box. A thousand whispers ut- 

35 


HAROLD GODWIN 


& 

tered, “ It is the Aphrodite/’ for so she had come to be 
known. 

The occupants of the box opposite to Aphrodite’s had 
not failed to observe the ovation though they had not 
participated in it. They, too, knew by sight the beau- 
tiful Aphrodite. The aristocratic looking elderly lady, 
who plainly presided as the mother and ruler of the two 
interesting young creatures with her, endeavored to 
distract the attention of her children from the strange 
outburst which she inwardly deprecated as unseemly 
and outrageous. 

“ Marie Leona,” she said to a young girl possessed 
of more diamonds than beauty, “ is that not the Duke 
of Primrose in the box there in the center ? ” 

“ I am not sure, mamma,” replied the girl. 

“ Well, ask your sister, Violanita.” 

Violanita, with still more diamonds and still less 
beauty than her younger sister, languidly replied, “ Yes, 
mamma, that’s the duke, isn’t he charming ? ” 

“ Isn’t that the Mutro-Ragley’s box ? ” asked Marie 
Leona. 

“ Why, Marie Leona, don’t point. There’s Mr. 
Ward Mcllroy. Your conduct is awful for a grad- 
uate of Mrs. Duane’s fashionable school for young 
ladies.” 

“ I’m not pointing, only my fan fell over that way, in 
that direction. But, is not that Mrs. Mutro-Ragley’s 
box ? ” persisted Marie Leona. 

“ No, I don’t know whose box it is/’ answered Mrs. 
Vanderwenter, still looking at Aphrodite’s box, from 
which her attention had but briefly been diverted by the 
frowning appearance of Mr. Ward Mcllroy, who was 
the chief guardian of the manners and style, etiquette 
and social statistics of New York. 

“ Oh, I don’t mean the beautiful Aphrodite’s box, 
everybody knows that. I mean the one where the Duke 
of Primrose is,” said Marie Leona. 

“ Marie Leona,” austerely chided the elderly matron, 


HAROLD GODWIN 1 


37 


“ I trust you will not know so much. The box you 
refer to is Mr. Mutro-Ragley’s.” 

Delnot and Warren were seated obliquely across from 
the Vanderwenters. At the very commencement of the 
applause, Delnot remarked, “ the Aphrodite has ar- 
rived.” 

“ How do you know ? ” queried Warren. The ap- 
plause had now assumed the proportions of an ovation. 

“ I know it in three ways. This applause is the in- 
cense irresistibly offered by all men to a beautiful 
woman, and the only woman becoming dominant as 
such at this time in this city is the beautiful Aphro- 
dite.” 

“ Well, your second reason,” suggested Warren. 

“ The second is the natural complement of the first. 
See the expression of distrust that flashes from the 
averted eye-brows of the elderly lady in the opposite 
box, which is to some extent shared by nearly every 
other woman who does not possess the gift of beauty.” 

“ Perhaps the elderly lady has some grounds for dis- 
trust,” said Warren. “ And now for your third 
reason.” 

“ Behold the frown on the lowering brows of our 
friend, Ward Mcllroy.” 

“ Your analysis of the transaction is complete,” re- 
plied Warren, laughing. “ Yes, Ward discerns an 
enemy to the good order of society.” 

At the same moment, in the parquet Ward Mcllroy 
was whispering to an elderly and highly respectable 
personage by his side. “ This is horrible, horrible in 
the extreme. An ovation, just think of it ! To an out- 
sider, an unknown, at least not one of the 600. I have 
had misgivings for some time past from that young 
lady. I have felt intuitively that she was a storm cloud 
full of lightning and would strike some day. And now 
I feel it coming, here in the chosen temple of fashion, 
among the* chosen, the salt of this continent. Heaven 
help me, but I must avert the danger.” 


3 « 


HAROLD GODWIN 


The respectable personage at his side answered not 
at first. He, too, was under the influence and had felt 
the caloric of that beaming smile. Besides, he was not 
the chosen leader and guardian of the salt. The old 
gentleman replied, in a cracked voice, “ such a lovely, 
girl.” 

“ Bosh ! ” replied Ward, almost fiercely. “ Are the 
lofty gates of society to be laid low at the simple behest 
of physical beauty? These gates which are the product 
of generations of wealth, culture and refinement ? ” 

“ That is, supposed to be,” broke in the old gentle- 
man. 

“ Actually are, upon the hypothesis of decent so- 
ciety,” said Ward Mcllroy. 

“ Very well,” replied the old gentleman, “ I see, — a 
kind of legal fiction.” 

With a great clash of music the opera opened and this 
conversation ceased, but not the forebodings and anxi- 
ety of Ward Mcllroy. 

The curtain had scarcely descended upon the first 
act when admirers began to troop into Aphrodite’s 
box. 

“ There they go,” said Delnot to his friend, “ the men 
can no more withstand her influence than steel the 
magnet.” 

“ Or than vegetation can refuse to bask in the sun- 
light.” 

From their present situation, the two gentleman en- 
joyed a full view of Aphrodite’s box. 

“ Look at that smile now and interpret it if you can,” 
continued Delnot. “ It is as universal as the glorious 
sun itself, as you suggested just now, gilds and warms 
every heart and face under its beams. Men adore 
the warm and beautiful in woman and readily surrender 
to these attractions. There goes the old commodore.” 

Just then, a large elderly man, with snow white hair 
and a rugged, weather-beaten, rather red face, appeared 
in the box. 


HAROLD GODWIN 


39 


Aphrodite graciously welcomed him. “ Our last 
meeting was at Madrid,” said the commodore, with a 
friendly smile, “ and I followed your yacht afterwards 
from Venice, but your craft was too swift for my old 
flagship.” 

“ For a good reason, Commodore. Your flagship, 
they say, is, as it should be, the center of the good cheer 
and hospitality of the Club, and the grey-hound quality 
of speed may properly be relegated to the less important 
and less distinguished members.” Then turning to her 
company, she continued, “ Gentlemen, you all know the 
commodore? ” “ I should say so,” interposed the com- 

modore, looking around and shaking hands with all and 
each. “ Well, my friends, you are all here, the chiefs 
of my captains. I believe we sailors all have tastes 
alike. I come in from a long voyage and find you all 
properly worshipping at the shrine of Aphrodite, the 
queen of the sea. And here’s my young friend. How 
do you do, sir? Young man, beware ! ” This was ad- 
dressed to Willy Vanderwenter who had just then 
joined the group. 

To him, Aphrodite was particularly charming; and 
for him space was made near by herself. 

The youth, for he was still quite young, bowed po- 
litely to his acquaintances ; but his eyes, which were of 
a mild blue color, seldom were averted from the direc- 
tion of Aphrodite. Her power over this youth was so 
manifest, even to herself, that she made a generous at- 
tempt to conceal his submission from others by ex- 
tending him on her part special consideration and act- 
ual deference. 

Willy’s figure was small, not very straight, but neat, 
and his manners fair but entirely without distinction. 
His chin was weak and his forehead high and narrow. 
In response to the commodore’s hearty salutation, he 
said, very pleasantly, 

“ I am glad to see you, Commodore. We heard you 
were still at sea.” 


40 


HAROLD GODWIN 


“ So I was, sir, so I was. But I hope, you perceive. 
I’m not always at sea.” 

Another crash of music drowned the voices of all, and 
another scene appeared upon the stage. 

When Willy appeared in Aphrodite’s box, the elderly 
lady in the box opposite could scarcely conceal her 
nervous annoyance. Fortunately, in a moment after, 
Mr. Ward Mcllroy arrived at Mrs. Vanderwenter’s 
box. His visit was, she felt, quite providential. To 
him alone could she confide her feelings of chagrin. In 
the course of this conversation she s^aid, “ No, Mr. Mc- 
llroy, beauty alone, as you say, is not a sufficient cre- 
dential. You do not think my son Willy is really infat- 
uated, do you ? ” 

“No, I apprehend not. Undoubtedly he is just 
amusing himself.” 

“ I hope so, but it’s such bad taste for those gentle- 
men, — among them, many of the most excellent of our 
set, to devote themselves so publicly to a person who 
has not been duly admitted, as it were.” 

“ Your admirable taste resents this attack, and I 
think many of the ladies will resent it also,” said Ward 
Mcllroy. 

“We must see that this threatening person shall not 
enter further upon the sacred circle of society,” said 
Mrs. Vanderventer. 

“ We must see to it,” answered Mr. Ward Mcllroy. 

Many carriages bore homeward that night after the 
opera many persons of many minds. 

Willy’s mind was complacent and calm. His moth- 
er’s mind was much the reverse but she had no oppor- 
tunity yet to express her views or to put him on his 
guard. The minds of the men that had approached 
Aphrodite were serenely flattered, and content within 
themselves. And the minds of the women who had 
tried not to see her were perturbed and hoped for 
vengeance. 


HAROLD GODWIN 


4i 


The mind of the intellectual Delnot, who had ob- 
served everything, was keenly delighted with the in- 
teresting play of human nature that transpired before 
the scenes, more than with even the brilliancy of grand 
opera, which for the first time had ceased to engross his 
faculties and attention. 

Upon her arrival at home* as she was about to pass 
from the carriage to the steps, Aphrodite was accosted 
by a beggar : “ Help me, madame, for my wife and 

children.” She glanced at the man from head to foot 
and gently pausing, she called to her maid, “ Aimee, 
give me my portemonnaie.” The girl obeyed. Taking 
it into her possession, without opening it, or even look- 
ing at it, Aphrodite handed the plethoric pocket book, 
full of thick bills and yellow gold, to the astonished 
mendicant, and gently bowing, said kindly, “ it may 
bring relief to those you love,” and she passed on. 

It did bring relief. The progress of death was stayed 
in an unfortunate but worthy family. The man was 
amply able to remove to a less crowded field of industry 
and to commence a new life in prosperity and happiness, 
and this simple act of charity, forgotten by Aphrodite 
as soon as performed, was forever thereafter com- 
memorated in the hearts of a thankful and God-fear- 
ing family, from whose infants’ lips arose, in the morn- 
ing and at even time, the incense of prayers, among 
which were mingled and sanctified the name of “ The 
Beautiful Aphrodite.” 


CHAPTER VII 


THE ENGAGEMENT 

It was the next day after the events recounted in the 
last chapter that Willy Vanderwenter called upon Aph- 
rodite. She received him with kind familiarity, for he 
had been a constant visitor, in her sumptuous parlors. 
The natural grace and charm of her manner cast a halo 
of sunshine around her presence. Willy was pleased, 
and inhaled the aroma of her beauty. This he might 
naturally have done, if not in love, but, being in love, 
the effect was not short of delirious intoxication. 

In the conversation that followed, they had enter- 
tainingly discussed the leading features of the last even- 
ing’s occurrences; the excellence of the opera, the re- 
turn of the commodore, the number of old yachting 
acquaintances she had met, — when Willy, who could no 
longer restrain the controlling passion of his being, ap- 
proached the great subject of his then mission: 

“ Now, Aphrodite, for so you have commanded me to 
address you, let me come to the subject of our own 
affairs. You know that several times you have de- 
clined to favorably consider my proposal of marriage. 
You know that, notwithstanding all this, I have stead- 
fastly, and I hope unobtrusively, remained faithful to 
my love for you. For this, however, I claim no credit, 
it has become a part of my nature to love, nay, to wor- 
ship, you/’ 

“ Candidly, Willy,” replied Aphrodite, “ I don’t know 
what I should do in this exigency. Some days I think 
I should accept your offer, other days I am disposed to 
decline it.” 

43 


HAROLD GODWIN ) 


43 

“ Then let this be one of the days when you are in^ 
dined to accept,” said Willy, with a hopeful smile. 

“ That would scarcely be fair to you in the event 
that to-morrow I should be differently inclined/’ 

“ I will at least have had one day’s complete happi- 
ness,” rejoined Willy, “ if I should have to die to- 
morrow.” 

“ Indeed your love is very beautiful. One who loves 
thus must during the times at least of his trust and re- 
pose, enjoy a high serenity of emotional satisfaction. 
You almost captivate me with your steadfastness,” and 
a corresponding glance of sympathy swept over the 
young man. 

This glance was to him a warm beam of encourage- 
ment beyond any he had heretofore received, and he 
continued : 

“ As I said before, Aphrodite, I can claim no credit. 
My devotion to you is nature now to me.” 

“ But suppose I should feel obliged to reject you 
finally?” 

“ It will be my death,” quietly responded the young 
man. 

Aphrodite was touched by this reply. “ But, my dear 
friend, it should not be thus, matters of love should not, 
must not, be so serious.” 

“ They are with me,” rejoined the youth. 

tc Your mother will probably not sanction our mar- 
riage,” said Aphrodite. 

“ It matters not,” replied Willy. “ You alone are 
the arbiter of my fate, not my mother.” 

“ But she may not sanction it.” 

“ That makes no difference.” 

“ But it does.” 

“ How so?” 

“ I cannot honorably, from my standpoint, agree to 
marry you without your mother’s consent. I could not 
endure to be charged with interloping into any one’s 
family; my self-respect would not permit it,” 


44 


HAROLD GODWIN 


“And I must have my mother’s consent?” asked 
Willy. 

“ Yes.” 

“ I shall get it, I think.” 

“ I don’t think you can. There is another obstacle 
also — serious and insuperable it seems to me. I am 
not a good woman.” She hesitated, and said slowly, 
“ I love— ” 

“ Hold, Aphrodite — no more I beseech you, on that 
line,” he said, with a calm smile. “ I know not and care 
not what you have been. I take you as you are,” con- 
tinuing to smile kindly. “ I love you, Aphrodite, as 
you are. You, as you are, have become my necessity. 
Neither am I concerned about the future. My life, my 
mind, demands the present — not the past or the fu- 
ture.” The last was seriously said. 

She remained silent and overcome. He continued, 
with a smile, “ I wish you as you are.” 

“ But I have serious faults that you should know, 
and knowing them would probably satisfy you that your 
mother’s objection will be right. A man should know 
everything about the woman he proposes to make his 
wife.” 

“ Other men might wish to, but I am not concerned 
about anything but yourself as you are.” Then smil- 
ing again, he continued, “ therefore pardon me, but 
please never, at any time, say anything about what 
might possibly be disagreeable — but only let me love 
you.” 

“ But suppose I love another ? ” 

“ I don’t want to know it.” 

“ Suppose I should hereafter love another ? ” 

“ I don’t know — I cannot look into the future, no 
one can with any certainty. I ask for the present. 
That is boon enough for me.” 

Aphrodite was much overcome with this man’s sim- 
ple, unquestioning devotion. She extended her hand, 
saying, “ obtain your mother’s consent.” 


HAROLD GODWIN 


45 


“ And after that ? ” he queried. 

“ You may hope.” 

Bowing deferentially, he withdrew. 

Aphrodite paced at first slowly and then more rapidly 
up and down the apartment, her hands firmly clasped 
together and her head bowed in thought. At last she 
said, 

“ Surely his mother will not consent — I hope not. 
But his love is beautiful.” 


CHAPTER VIII 


THE SOCIAL GUARDIAN 

Ward McIlroy awoke the same morning with the 
intention of disrobing the wolf that threatened the 
fold. 

When he had breakfasted and ordered his carriage, 
he directed his driver to take him first to the commo- 
dore’s. There he found that worthy personage in the 
j oiliest and most communicative of humors. 

“ What occasions the honor of this early visit from 
the social chief this morning?” asked the commodore, 
after passing the usual compliments. 

“ Well, to tell you the truth,” replied Ward, “ I am 
here strictly in a social capacity for social informa- 
tion.” 

“ Oh, I see ! About the new yacht that is to defend 
the cup. Of course. Why, Ward, she is the finest 
thing that ever flew a jib. Now, it’s a secret, the line§ 
on which she is built are of course a secret but there is 
no harm in telling you in Book Eleven at page 162 of 
the Manual you will find the original lines on which the 
old America was built, but those lines have been en- 
tirely revolutionized and in book — ” 

“ But hold on, Commodore,” said Mr. McIlroy, 
“ that is all very interesting — ” 

“ Yes, of course, very interesting,” interjected the 
commodore, “ and these lines, you see — ” 

“ But excuse me, Commodore,” said Ward McIlroy, 
desiring to bring his matter up. 

“ Why, of course you want to know how they came 
to be reset,” insisted the commodore pleasantly. 

46 


HAROLD GODWIN 


47 

" No,” hastily put in Ward. “ That is not the point. 
You see, that is not the matter I was after. I am al- 
ways interested in yachting matters, which are also 
sometimes social matters, but just now I want to 
know,” coughing punctiliously, “ who the lady is whom 
I saw you visiting in her box last night at the 
opera ? ” 

“ Oh, that's it, is it. Well, my dear fellow, she’s a 
prince — I mean a queen. She sails her own boat which 
is elegant and fleet and she herself is the handsomest 
craft I ever saw, and I’ve sailed the world over and 
visited every court in the civilized world and many in 
the uncivilized.” 

At this stage the commodore blew a shrill silver 
whistle and a person of nondescript color and nation- 
ality appeared, dressed in the garb of a sailor. 

“ Bring the bumpers,” said the commodore, and this 
person disappeared, but almost immediately returned 
with two huge glasses and two huge bottles or de- 
canters, from which, upon manipulation, issued a pop 
as of a musket and the fizz of a steam engine, and a 
tumbler which being filled, Ward Mcllroy was almost 
forced to seize and drink of, under the wild gestures of 
the commodore, drinking and gesticulating, and utter- 
ing amid gurgles : “ Drink her down — quick, Ward. 
Lose flavor — East Indian — drink. New. Brought 
her back — New. Drink. New York — bovs — treat. 
New York.” 

Ward was too much of a gentleman to entirely de- 
cline the well intentioned hospitality of the mariner, 
but he was also too well versed in the methods of sea- 
faring men to trust his sobriety to their keeping. So, 
with face full of fizz and eyes and nose full of pungency, 
he desisted from an extensive trial of the beverage after 
a sip or two which he declared afterwards actually went 
with a dangerous tingle from the top of his scalp even 
to his pedal extremities. 

The commodore was too blinded by the spray to ob- 


HAROLD GODWIN 


*8 

serve the caution of his guest, as at the close of the cheer 
he ordered the lackey to remove the glasses. 

“ What do you think of her ” enthusiastically in- 
quired the commodore. 

“ I think she is a wolf,” said Ward, whose mind was 
still ruminating on the object of his mission. 

“ My God, sir ! You can’t mean it,” said the com- 
modore, who was thinking only of his beverage. 

“ I do, sir,” returned Ward. 

“ Well, by Jove, sir. I shall not stand it. She’s 
cost me ten thousand dollars to import into New York 
in her present shape — and to meet with this from the 
Chief Mogul of Society ! ” 

“ You have no right to import such things to the de- 
moralization of the youth of the 600 and to the dis- 
turbance of respectable families.” This was said with 
much severity and dignity. 

“ My hear this ! What right have you to insult 

me in my own house ? For less than this I had deemed 
it my duty with any other person to call him out. I 
ask again, by what right do you thus malign me and 
thus speak of her whom I so proudly imported ? ” 

“ It is my duty, sir,” replied Ward, “ to tell you the 
truth. Upon me devolves the sacred cause of good 
society in this city, and in that behalf I tell you, she is 
a wolf, my friend.” 

“ Oh no, you are not my friend, and this is unen- 
durable. I can stand it no longer.” The shrill whistle 
sounded shriller, with a terrible keenness. Then soon 
the nondescript appeared. 

“ Bring the benders,” said the commodore. 

The man instantly returned with two flat-looking 
boxes. 

“ You may retire,” said the commodore. The non- 
descript retired. 

The commodore proceeded to unwrap and open the 
boxes. He had unwrapped one, opened it and placed 
it upon the table. He, by the same gesture pushed it 


HAROLD GODWIN 


49 

toward Mr. Ward Mcllroy — it, to tflat gentleman’s un- 
speakable horror, contained a huge firearm. 

“You may have your choice,” dignifiedly said the 
commodore, “ it’s loaded, forty-five slugs. I’ll take this 
as you choose,” deliberately proceeding to unwrap the 
other box, which undoubtedly contained another article 
of the same destructive nature. 

Ward Mcllroy was horrified. “ Heavens,” he rap- 
idly reflected, “ there can be no honor gained in a con- 
test with this madman.” A bright thought struck him 
— he would humor him. 

“ Sir,” he said, with a grave bow, “ would you mind 
leaving me alone in this room for a minute till I consider 
this little matter ? ” 

“ Certainly,” replied the commodore, also with fatal 
dignity, and a low bow : “ I will retire for two minutes 

by the watch,” and thereupon withdrew. 

“ I will also retire for more than two minutes,” 
enunciated Ward. “ The man is a madman — made 
mad, no doubt, by this terrible creature. Horrible! 
Horrible ! ” he said, as he hastily retreated from the 
premises, and gaining the curb of the street directed his 
driver: “To Mrs. Vanderwenter’s and rapidly; re- 
main not here a moment, it is not safe here.” 

The bewildered coachman swiftly drove to Mrs. Van- 
derwenter’s. 

When the commodore returned to his parlor only to 
find that his opponent had disappeared, his disappoint- 
ment assumed a strange and terrible shape. The shrill 
whistle resounded at short intervals and the servants 
were dispatched in every direction to discover, if pos- 
sible, the vanished enemy. But to no purpose; the 
enemy had successfully eluded pursuit. The nonde- 
script then fell specially under the wrath of the com- 
modore. “ You at least are still within reach,” he 
cried, “ and I’ll practice a little on you. Take that card 
there, sir, the ace I mean, and hold it up.” 


5 <> 


HAROLD GODWIN 


“No save ” cried the nondescript. 

“No save! I’ll save you, sir. Here! ” and showing 
him the card and standing him up with the hand and 
card just before a section of a convenient palm tree 
that decorated a corner of the roorn, the commodore 
retired about ten paces, and seizing one of the pistols, 
deliberately fired. 

At the explosion the nondescript ducked from one 
side of the room to the other. 

“ No me killee,” he cried supplicatingly. 

“ No,” said the commodore, “ no danger to you, but 
look at the card,” and pointing to it in the terrified grasp 
of the nondescript, he showed that the center spot had 
been replaced by a bullet hole. 

The grasp of the nondescript relaxed at the magic 
sight, a broad grin covered his black features and dis- 
played his white teeth, as he said, prostrating himself 
before his master : 

“ Commodore, heap chief. Me do whatever Commo- 
dore me tell.” 

At this moment a servant handed the commodore a 
card at which he glanced, and said, “ Just the man we 
want, Li Hung, chief functionary of the Chinese, dele- 
gation. Show him in. Now, Zenghabenji, take posi- 
tion.” This time without fear and without a grin, the 
nondescript assumed the same position, with another 
ace, and as Li Hung entered, a second shot exploded 
and a second center was replaced with a hole. 

“ Ah, me practicee,” said Li Hung, “ good shotee.” 

“ Yes,” replied the commodore, “ just keeping my 
hand in, thought I’d have a chance this morning, but 
the scoundrel has run away. Do you ever shoot, 'Li? ” 

“ Yes, see,” said Li, not in a very firm voice. 

“ Well, we’ll see,” said the commodore. “ Zengha- 
benji, get in position there.” But as a second thought 
occurred to him, he said, “ wait a minute. Here’s a 
man knows what it is. Zenghabenji, bring the 
bumpers.” 


HAROLD GODWIN 


51 

The nondescript returned almost instantly, as before, 
with the bumpers. 

Immediately exclamations of delight in various sylla- 
bles emanated from the diplomat. 

Equally delighted was the commodore to observe his 
appreciation. 

“ There’s nothing like travel to educate a man,” said 
the commodore. “ Some of these New Yorkers think 
they know everything, and the chief of them this morn- 
ing didn’t know as much as this heathen Chinee ” (sotto 
voce). 

“ Ah ! Here we go,” said the commodore. 

“ Ah zee, jo ee, cum ee, zelicious ee, Hur ee,” said the 
Chinaman. 

Scarcely had they dried their faces of the abundant 
spray or taken their breat!^ when the commodore 
waved the nondescript again, solemnly, 

“ Bring the bumpers.” 

Again the bumpers came, again the Chinaman ex- 
claimed and now danced with delight and incipient in- 
toxication, “Zee, Hur ee zee, zelicious, zee, grand, pre- 
mier, zee, Washington, vellv, gnadee zee ! ” were among 
the incomprehensible utterances that escaped between 
the gaseous expansions of the steam engine decoc- 
tion. 

In the excitement of the congratulations between the 
Chinese functionary and the commodore over this newly 
discovered beverage, the nondescript disappeared for a 
moment, and when he came in again, his eyes had the 
same twinkle and his black face the same sleek, newly 
washed appearance as the two gentlemen’s and it 
thereby appeared that he had taken their word for it 
and imbibed some of this wonderful liquor himself. 

“ Well,” said the commodore, “ now you shall have 
your shot at the card.” 

" Zenghabenji ! Position ! ” 

The nondescript got the card and assumed the old 
position. 


5 * 


HAROLD GODWIN 


Li Hung, in whose hand the commodore had placed 
a pistol, hesitated and his hand trembled. 

“ Come, now,” said the commodore, showing the po- 
sition. “ Stand about here and fire away. Bore the 
center.” 

Li Hung assumed the position indicated, raised his 
weapon, pointed it, shut his eyes and pulled the trigger 
— but it did not go off. 

“ What’s the matter ? ” said the commodore. 
“ Never knew that to happen before. These guns are 
cock sure. Oh, I see!” (examining the weapon) 
" didn’t have it cocked. Well, now we’ve got her,” 
cocking the pistol and handing it to the now palsied 
hand of the functionary. 

The functionary raised the weapon preparatory to 
exploding it, but he never had time to complete the ac- 
tion. The nondescript’s eyes had been wide open during 
this second attempt upon his life. He marked the 
vacillating nerve, the unsteady hand, and last of all the 
closing of the eyes of the Chinaman, and with an in- 
stinct of self-preservation based on these timely ob- 
servations, he this time bounded with the rapidity of 
lightning upon his designless enemy and closed with 
him just as he was perfunctorily pulling the trigger. 
The bullet went up in the air and the marksman went 
down on the ground. The shrill whistle sounded a 
general alarm, and the servants attired as sailors rushed 
in to part the apparent combatants. When separated, 
the nondescript submissively crawled to the side of the 
commodore. 

“ What do you mean, you scoundrel, by such con- 
duct?” said the commodore, addressing him. 

The nondescript mutely but penitently begged for- 
giveness, and with tears in his eyes muttered, “ Me beg- 
gee Chinee pardon.” 

“ Hear that, Li? Is that all right? He begs pardon, 
makes the amende honorable.” 

To this the functionary answered in the affirmative, 


HAROLD GODWIN 


53 


In fact and in truth, he did not understand what had oc- 
curred at all and attributed his fall to some strange 
action of the commodore’s pistol, and to no other cause. 

“ Well, I’m glad everything is so speedily and hon- 
orably adjusted,” said the commodore. “ Bring the 
bumpers.” The Chinaman smiled, the nondescript in- 
stantly disappeared and the commodore said, sotto voce, 
“ I have discovered it — how to conquer the world. Hur, 
that’s it. Take an Anglo-Saxon head to stand it. These 
ducks, these orientals are drunk already — my mind’s as 
clear as a dew bell. If the Turks had had a cargo of 
this, the Greeks could have taken Constantinople with- 
out a blow.” 

The nondescript reappeared, the musket popped, the 
steam engine fizzed, and amid gurgles the Chinaman 
exclaimed, the commodore puffed, and the nondescript 
smacked his lips. A little later the Chinaman, overcome 
by the beverage, was tucked up like a mummy in a 
large upright chair and left to his meditations. 


CHAPTER IX 


THE MISSION 

Ward McIlroy had not delayed in his exit from the 
commodore’s and rapidly he was driven to Mrs. Van- 
derwenter’s palatial residence. There arrived, he was 
ushered into the drawing-room and soon Mrs. Vander- 
wenter appeared. 

“ Ah, Mrs. Vanderwenter,” he cried, “ I have solved 
the problem, caged the bird, trapped the wolf that 
threatened the happiness and welfare of our social 
fold.” 

“ I had every confidence that you alone would be able 
to avert the danger, which I feel intuitively is overshad- 
owing us, and I am much gratified to learn that my 
confidence in our great leader is fully justified. But, 
Mr. McIlroy, you look flushed as if you had passed 
through some extraordinary scene of excitement.” 

“ It is true, madame, I have,” he replied, “ but the de- 
tails of that dread scene,” and he visibly shuddered at 
the recollection, “ must remain buried here,” touching 
his heart with two fingers. “ The details I must pass 
over.” 

“Were they painful?” interjected Mrs. Vander- 
wenter. 

“ Yes, madame, very painful. My life was threat- 
ened.” 

Mrs. Vanderwenter nervously applied her smelling 
salts. 

Ward continued, “ but the danger is temporarily 
averted. The madman was foiled. But the grand re- 
sults I have achieved in behalf of our world, our people* 

54 


HAROLD GODWIN 


55 


our 600, gives me pride and pleasure to recount 
if they shall enable us to weather the danger of that 
woman, as I think they will. I have secured evidence 
from the commodore that is final and overwhelming. 
The commodore says he imported her to this country — 
from England, I believe. I won't be sure that he said 
England, as it may have been the Isle of Guernsey, or 
some other place, I won’t be sure about that point. But 
I am positive he said he imported her into this country 
and that she cost him about twenty thousand dollars, 
now I won’t be sure that he said twenty thousand, it 
might have been ten, but I am sure it was a good many 
thousand dollars, and on this statement I am ready to 
stand. Pardon me, madame, for the freedom of this 
communication, but the dangers surrounding us and the 
pressing necessities of the occasion must plead my ex- 
cuse,” bowing lowly. 

“ Pardon you, indeed! You shall receive additional 
'proofs of the loyalty which the 600 owe to you who 
have specially created and are now so chivalrously pro- 
tecting the propriety of our social institutions even at the 
! risk of your own life,” and the last was said with a 
'slight tremor of personal emotion, as if with a little 
'probing the rich old widow would prove not altogether 
obdurate to the thawing influence of gallantry. But 
Ward was too wrapped up in the great concerns of 
Society to observe any symptoms of special considera- 
tion for himself. He continued, “ With this testimony 
of the commodore’s, and he cannot deny that he said he 
: * imported her to this country,’ with this statement the 
dangerous ascendancy of this wandering Venus is 
dimmed and made harmless.” 

Just then a little note from her son Willy begged an 
audience with his mother. Mrs. Vanderwenter con- 
tinued, “ I am so glad he wishes to see me just at this 
time, when you are here, and may I beg of you to ex- 
cuse me, and especially to remain here until after my in- 
terview with him ? For I am sure it is something of 


HAROLD GODWIN 


56 

absorbing interest and that I will need your advice in 
this matter perhaps immediately.” 

“ Of course, madame, I shall remain, ever, I 
trust, obedient to my duty and your wishes.” 

Mrs. Vanderwenter withdrew. 

As Mrs. Vanderwenter met her son in another apart- 
ment, she was struck by the pallor of his complexion 
and the seriousness of his demeanor. 

“ My mother,” he cried, “ I have come to ask you to 
grant me the greatest favor possible for me to ask, or 
for you to grant.” 

“ How so, my son ? ” 

“ Because, if you refuse, I will have but little use for 
any other favor you might wish to grant me.” 

“ I have never refused you anything in the world you 
desired in the whole course of your life, my son, and 
why should I begin to refuse you now? Now speak 
not in riddles but tell your mother your desires.” 

“ Mother, I wish to marry the beautiful Aphrodite 
and I desire your consent.” 

The pallor of the son’s cheek was more than trans- 
ferred to the mother’s. She visibly trembled with agi- 
tation and would have fallen if not supported to a seat 
by the aid of her son. With one hand she covered her 
brow and eyes and sat silent. 

“ I had no intention nor desire to bring this much 
trouble upon you, my mother,” said Willy, and then 
continuing slowly, he said, “ I shall drop the subject 
with you if it is so painful that it may cause you a fatal 
shock. If fatality be involved, let it fall on me. I 
shouldn’t care to live much longer in this world any- 
way if the sunlight is to be taken out of it and I must 
grope in aimless and eternal darkness.” 

By this time Mrs. Vanderwenter had recovered con- 
trol of her senses and understanding, and was deeply 
pondering the import of his last words and the unnat- 
ural, the desperate, calmness of her son, and as a mother 


HAROLD GODWIN 


57 

only could, she measured the depth of his feeling and 
sincerity. 

Willy continued, “ We will say no more about it, 
mother. Your refusal is final and that ends it all for 
me. But never mind, we won’t say anything more. 
Good-bye, sweet mother,” and the boy kissed his mother 
tenderly and calmly and started away. 

“ Come back, Willy,” said Mrs. Vanderwenter. 
“ Are you sure you know what you are asking ? ” 

“ I think I do, mother. For the most beautiful 
woman on earth.” 

“ Do you know that she was imported into this coun- 
try by Commodore Tibideau? ” 

“ By the commodore? ” queried Willy. 

“ Yes.” 

“ That’s impossible,” said the young man. 

“ I will prove it to you by Mr. Ward Mcllroy him- 
self. He is in the drawing-room.” 

“ Mother, what you say is impossible. The commo- 
dore is a noble, honorable man of the old school, and 
will not bear false testimony.” 

His mother replied, “ My confidence in Mr. Mcllroy 
is as absolute as the rock of ages, and if what he says 
is not true, I am done; my duty as your mother and 
a member of society is performed and you have my 
consent. Come with me now and see Mr. Mcllroy. 
And together they repaired to the adjoining suite. 

Upon entering the room where Mr. Mcllroy was 
seated, Mrs. Vanderwenter delicately stated the nature 
of her interview with her son and then proceeded to 
say: “ Mr. Mcllroy, this is my only son, and the heir 
to the Vanderwenter estates. I have never in my life 
refused him an expressed wish that lay in my power 
to gratify. I know that my son is serious in the request 
he now makes, and I refuse it only upon the condition 
that my reliance upon your statements of what the com- 
modore said, is sustained, otherwise my son shall have 


58 


HAROLD GODWIN 


my consent, my aid, and comfort in this proposed mar- 
riage, nor will I ever again hear or entertain a word of 
gossip or scandal against her.” 

Willy regarded his mother proudly and indulged for 
himself the confidence that the terrible condition would 
in some way be dispelled. Mrs. Vanderwenter con- 
tinued, “ In this important social and family exigency 
I stake all on the word of our respected leader, Mr. 
Ward Mcllroy.” 

Mr. Mcllroy replied, “ Madame, you cannot be de- 
ceived. I was in the full possession of my senses and 
vouch for the correctness of my statement that the 
commodore said he ‘ had imported her into this coun- 
try,’ and if I am wrong, then the senses are no longer 
to be trusted, my duty to the 600 is done, and I too will 
fortify your action in this matter, young man,” turning 
to Willy, “ with all the aid in my power.” 

Then said Willy, “ Come, mother, and Mr. Mcllroy, 
come now with me and we will forthwith interview the 
commodore.” 

“ I may not go, my son, but Mr. Mcllroy and your- 
self may, and report to me, when you deem proper, the 
result.” 


CHAPTER X 


THE INTERVIEW 

The commodore was still engaged with his enter- 
tainment of the functionary of the Chinese Empire 
when he received the two cards of Mr. Mcllroy and 
Willy Vanderwenter. 

“ Oh ho ! he’s come again, and undoubtedly with his 
second this time. Good ! Show the gentlemen up.” 

“ Here, Li,” he continued, “ can’t you second me in 
this little affair ? ” The Chinaman’s almond eyes 
opened widely for a moment but closed again. The 
commodore went to him beseechingly and attempted to 
wake him into consciousness. “ But here, you must. 
He’s here with his second and I wouldn’t, under the 
circumstances, cause a minute’s delay, especially as I 
pushed it on him in the first instance. Li, you must.” 

Again Li’s eyes opened and closed. 

“ Why, confound you, wake up,” this time giving the 
diplomat a sturdy shake by the shoulders. 

The functionary awoke with a start, stared into the 
distant future, recognized the commodore once more, 
and relapsed into slumber with the bland smile upon 
his broad face of a setting sun in times of peace. 

“ What shall I do,” cried the commodore, now thor- 
oughly aroused. “ I know,” and a confident expression 
beamed over his glorious red face. The whistle 
shrilled — the nondescript appeared. “ Bring the bump- 
ers. Got to brace him.” 

The bumpers came, were discharged and steamed; 
upon indication by gesture the nondescript set about 
pouring the contents down the throat of the somnolent 
Chinaman, which he did alternately with his own throat 

59 


6o 


HAROLD GODWIN 


preferred, while the commodore was religiously gulping 
down his own, deafened by the tumultuous roar and 
blinded by Niagarian mists. 

Just at this juncture the visitors entered. The com- 
modore had not yet observed them. Rubbing off his 
face with his handkerchief, he closely inspected the 
Chinaman. That functionary breathed with the calm- 
ness of another world, undisturbed by the copious over- 
flows that had descended by way of his open collar. 
Gazing at him for a second, the commodore said, “ It’s 
no use, he’s evidently gone.” As he turned from the 
diplomat, he saw the gentlemen, to whom he bowed 
with the utmost gravity, saying, “ Gentlemen, welcome, 
more than welcome. Mr. Vanderwenter, the gentle- 
man,” bowing stiffly in the direction of Mr. Mcllroy, 

“ could not have put his affairs in better hands. You 
are a member of the club, and, by thunder, on your 
account I won’t kill him. I’ll only wing him, but I’ll 
be obliged to do that.” 

Willy could not comprehend this, but assented in a 
gentlemanly way to what he supposed was the immedi- 
ate humor of the commodore, biding his time later on 
for the introduction of the object of his visit. 

The commodore rapidly pursued : “ But, my friend, 
you find me, as a gentleman, on this occasion, in a very 
awkward fix ; my friend whom I had expected to second 
me, Mr. Li Hung here present, is, as you see, tern- * 
porarily hors du combat, and I may add, very suddenly, 
and as I have just ascertained, entirely beyond revival 
even for the few moments necessary for the transaction 
of our little business. In this exigency you will grant 
me, I trust, a moment’s delay, just a moment.” Then 
studying the ceiling fixedly, “ Yes, just a moment. I 
have it.” He paused, the shrill whistle sounded twice, 
a sailor appeared. Writing a line on a card the com- 
modore said, “ Take that to Mr. Delnot, my illustrious 
neighbor, and request him to come at once.” Turning 
with much relief to Willy, he said, “ Of course you 


HAROLD GODWIN 


61 


could not proceed without a gentleman present in my 
behalf without laying yourselves open to criticism, as 
you readily see.” 

The cold, distant and stately style of the commodore 
toward himself, taken in connection with what he was 
saying, and prior occurrences, caused it to dawn very 
vividly on Mr. Ward Mcllroy that the commodore was 
contemplating an affair of honor, and that, too, on the 
spot. The reference to seconds and his plea for time 
and the necessity of avoiding compromise of the char- 
acters of the parties to the transaction, while not under- 
stood by Willy, were overwhelming evidences of the 
commodore’s interpretation of the visit. He began to 
see that the commodore took it for granted that he him- 
self had returned to resume the difficulty and to end the 
dispute tragically. Therefore, to prevent any such mis- 
understanding, Mr. Mcllroy straightened himself up to 
his full height and with super-dignity looking upon 
the commodore, said “ Commodore, you misunderstand 
the object — ” He could say no further, in thunder tones 
the commodore shouted: 

“ It is not possible you address me directly, sir? ” 

“ You do not understand,” resumed Mr. Ward. 

“ I am glad I misunderstood the gentleman,” bowed 
the commodore temporarily placid. “ He can only ad- 
dress me, in this stage of the difficulty, through his sec- 
ond, Mr. Vanderwenter. Communications through him 
will be duly considered upon the coming of my second, 
Mr. Delnot, who will be here presently, I trust, and un- 
til then, as you know, the rules of propriety forbid 
further discussion of this little matter.” 

Ward Mcllroy now began to regard the man as com- 
pletely mad and his own situation as desperate, and also 
began to regard the condition of the Chinaman as 
suspicious and perhaps a victim of the madman’s ter- 
rible hallucinations. He too prayed inwardly for the 
coming of an additional sane outsider, and, under the 
madman’s injunction, was obliged to refrain from com- 


62 


HAROLD GODWIN 


municating to his perplexed friend these apprehensions 
that filled his mind with torture and suspense. 

“ We may not,” continued the commodore senten- 
tiously, “ discuss our little matters here, but when Mr. 
Delnot arrives you, Mr. Vanderwenter, and he, shall 
make all arrangements. I leave it to you and to him. 
The instruments are here and it won’t take but a few 
seconds to assume position and to honorably settle the 
little matter.” 

“ But I must protest,” said Willy, upon whom began 
to dawn the existence of a singular condition of affairs 
between the commodore and the Society chief — “ I 
must protest that — ” 

“ I can’t accept your protests,” said the commodore, 
with a confiding smile. “ I know it is not entirely cus- 
tomary, but so great is my confidence in you and Mr. 
Delnot, that I don’t care to be present at your confer- 
ence, and will concede every wish of your principal, for 
immediate action. Ah ! I hear some one coming. Good ! 
it is our friend Delnot. Welcome, Delnot.” greeting 
him cordially. “ You are acquainted with these gen- 
tlemen. So glad you came at once. Important mat- 
ter. I confide everything to you, gentlemen. Mr. 
Vanderwenter’s principal wants satisfaction immedi- 
ately. You, Mr. Delnot, will concede everything and 
secure prompt action right here. Do this as my sec- 
ond, and you, gentlemen, will be best suited to hold 
your conference in the bamboo cabin — next suite — 
you know it, Delnot. Now go in there and talk it 
over. Quick action, Delnot,” closed the commodore, 
as the two gentlemen were half led, half gesticulated, 
by the commodore toward the folding door. 

“ Oh, don’t leave me here alone in this room with 
him,” ejaculated Ward. 

“Eminently correct! the gentleman’s right. Not 
good form perhaps for the principals to be vis & vis 
just yet. Eminently correct. I will retire,” and think- 


HAROLD GODWIN 


63 

ing of the accident of the morning, he added, “ but 
please to be here when I return. ,, And away he strode 
with stately dignity. 

“ I certainly wish to remain and to avoid any fur- 
ther encounters with the madman/' said Mr. Mcllroy, 
as the commodore slammed the great door behind him 
and disappeared. 

“ I tell you, gentlemen, the man is mad as a March 
hare/' continued Ward Mcllroy. 

“ His conduct is certainly very singular," chimed in 
Willy. 

“ How does this all come about ? ” queried Delnot. 

“ Why, this morning, suddenly, and without provoca- 
tion adequate or at all, he claimed to be violently in- 
sulted by me and forthwith produced those weapons 
which you see still lying on that table, for the purpose 
of 1 settling the little difficulty,' as he called it. Fortune 
favored me by a temporary absence from the room on 
his part and I made my escape. Now he evidently 
thinks I have returned, with Mr. Vanderwenter as my 
second, to resume the affray, and he leaves the matter to 
be speedily arranged for a combat, with Mr. Delnot as 
his second. And so inflated is he with this hallucina- 
tion, or perhaps with the effects of that terrible beverage 
that we saw him imbibing when we entered, that he will 
listen to nothing that might dispel his illusion but in- 
sists upon this mad and desperate encounter." 

“ Well, what led up to the controversy between you 
and him this morning?" asked Delnot. 

“ The controversy arose in this wise," answered 
Ward. “We were talking about this lady they call 
‘ The Aphrodite,' and he said, to be precise, that he had 
imported her to this country from England — now I 
won't be positive whether it was England or the Isle 
of Guernsey, or what other country — it might have 
been the East Indies when I come to think of it- — but 
I am positive he said he had imported her into this 


HAROLD GODWIN 


6 4 

country and that ‘ she had cost him twenty thousand 
dollars/ I won’t be accurate as to the amount — it 
might have been ten thousand dollars.” 

A rich, humorous smile, unobserved by the others, 
began to glow in Delnot’s face as he began to take in 
the situation. 

“ You called on him to make inquiries about the lady, 
having seen him in her opera box, did you not ? ” asked 
Delnot, his face still luminous with quiet humor. 

“ Exactly so ; as a society functionary charged with 
the care of the most precious flock known to the Amer- 
ican continent.” 

“ What information did you receive from him ? ” 

“ Very little. He said she was the handsomest craft, 
or creature, or something like that, in the world, and 
dashed on to talk about foreign countries and finally 
ordered a pagan sailor of his to bring in that infernal 
beverage, that I, nor no one else in civilization, ever 
saw before, and by courtesy I was obliged to inoculate 
myself with that villainous poison — which, by the by, 
may have ended the career of this honorable member 
of the Chinese Embassy,” pointing to Li, who was now 
entirely wrapped “ en Morpheuse.” And continuing, 
he said, “ It was during this part of the conversation 
that he made the statement which I have repeated and 
by which I am prepared to stand, upon the peril of my 
life with a sane man, though not with a madman.” 

Willy had been a silent listener to this conversation 
between Lis friends. As Mr. Mcllroy closed he said 
seriously, “ And I am particularly anxious that the 
statement as repeated by Mr. Mcllroy be fully ex- 
plained, so far as it relates to the lady in question.” 

Another suffusion of humor spread on the lips of 
Delnot — but, as before, unnoticed by his serious asso- 
ciates. 

“ What do you think about it, Delnot ? ” asked 
Mr. Mcllroy. “ What shall we do with this wild 
man ? ” 


HAROLD GODWIN 65 

“ I think we had better call him in and ask him the 
direct question, whether he said so and so, or not.” 

“ It will be of no use. He will come in fizzing and 
sizzing like his own infernal beverage, and refuse to 
listen to anything,” said Ward, who really preferred a 
less direct and more representative way of solving the 
question. 

“ I think not,” said Delnot. “ At any rate, suppose 
we try it ? ” 

“ Very well, but for goodness’ sake remove those 
weapons out of sight,” said Mcllroy. 

Delnot laughed a little as he concealed the weapons 
behind a curtain. He said, “ I think I know where he 
is and will bring him in without a word, and at the 
proper time you, Mr. Mcllroy, must ask the direct 
question.” Saying this, Delnot left the room. 

In a few moments he returned with the commodore 
punctiliously on his arm. Bowing to all, Delnot said, 
“ Gentlemen, it devolves upon me to open up this pre- 
liminary interview agreed upon by the seconds hereto ” 
— this language evidently met the approval of the com- 
modore — “ and while it is always the duty of a gentle- 
man to expose himself, when required, to the chances 
of mortal combat, it is also his duty, before taking the 
life of another, to fairly ascertain the cause of war so 
that it may not hereafter be said that the combat was 
not for just cause. Now, I understand that the cause 
on this occasion arose out of a conversation that oc- 
curred this morning between the commodore, my re- 
spected principal, and Mr. Ward Mcllroy, my respected 
chief. In that conversation, it is alleged, the objection- 
able words were used, and, as a second in these 
proceedings I have consented, contrary to custom and 
precedent, to require Mr. Mcllroy, personally, and in 
the presence of us all, to propound the question that 
will present the main issue between the parties hereto.” 

The great frame of the commodore gave evidence of 
impatient emotions, but nevertheless the justness of 


66 


HAROLD GODWIN 


Delnot’s remarks, notwithstanding their want of prece- 
dent, had their due weight, and he remained silent. 

Mr. Mcllroy, forgetting all else but the accuracy of 
the statement he desired to repeat, said with pallid dig- 
nity : 

“ Commodore Tibideau, excuse me, but did you not, 
at this place, on this day, state in my presence, that you 
had imported her into this country from England, or 
the Isle of Wight, or from the East Indies, I will not 
be positive from what country, but will be positive that 
you said you are the first person that imported her into 
this country, and that she cost you twenty thousand 
dollars — I won’t be accurate whether you said twenty 
thousand or ten thousand but at any rate, a good 
many thousand dollars ? ” 

The commodore looked queerly, as he answered : 
“ That’s true, in part and substantially. I said, I am 
the first man that imported Hur into this country and 
that I brought Hur, not from England or the Isle of 
Wight, but from the East Indies, and that she cost me 
considerably more than twenty thousand dollars, which 
last I ought not to have mentioned. But who disputes 
this statement ? ” 

“ I do,” slowly and deeply breathed Willy, his mild 
blue eyes shedding upon the commodore a cold, uncon- 
querable ray of steel. 

“ Dispute me ! ” cried the commodore, again enraged, 
“ must I wing my young friend, too ? ” 

“ Hold, gentlemen,” said Delnot. “ One dispute at a 
time, Commodore. You have intrusted your affairs to 
my hands. Leave them with me entirely or I must re- 
sign.” This threat had the right effect in view of the 
difficulty he had had in promptly securing a second and 
the commodore remained silent if his bosom did heave 
and his eyes flash fire. 

“ Gentlemen,” continued Delnot, “ we have now two 
disputes to settle instead of one, but let them come in 
their order.” 


HAROLD GODWIN 


67 

“ Our dispute is practically settled/’ suggested Ward 
Mcllroy, “ as he admits his guilt ” — a roar from the 
commodore — “ or rather his acknowledgment. That 
ought to end it.” 

“No it don’t,” vociferated the commodore. 

“ Gentlemen, I am astonished,” said Delnot. Then 
turning to the commodore : “ Again I say I must re- 
sign.” 

The threat of resignation was conclusive. The com- 
modore winced, for, from his standpoint, under the cir- 
cumstances, now to lose his second was to lose all hope 
of an affair. An armed neutrality was momentarily re- 
stored. The commodore addressed himself now more 
calmly and with stateliness, to Delnot, “ May I ask the 
gentleman one question ? ” 

“ Of course you may, and it is incumbent upon him to 
answer as freely and as fully as his knowledge will per- 
mit,” said Delnot. 

“ Then,” said the commodore, “ recurring to the same 
conversation alluded to by hirn, I would ask him if, in 
reply to my question what he thought of her, he did 
not say that * she was a wolf.’ ” 

“ Indeed I did,” replied Mr. Mcllroy. 

“You did, did you?” now said Willy, “ I, sir, now 
and here challenge and deny the base insinuation,” for 
he was angered at the duplicity of his friend and his 
cruelty toward his inamorata. 

“ Bravo,” cried the commodore, “ there’s a man 
knows what he is talking about — been outside of the 
city. But don’t hit him, Willy. Leave him to me, I’ll 
wing him directly this matter is settled. I have first 
choice.” 

Ward was now much terrified at finding himself be- 
set on all sides, and for no sound reason so far as he 
could understand the situation. 

The commodore continued : “ The idea of a man call- 
ing her a wolf, when I consider it the greatest achieve- 
ment of my long, and I trust, honorable career, that I 


68 


HAROLD GODWIN 


discovered her in the East Indies on my last voyage and 
am the first man to introduce her to my friends in this 
city, regardless of expense.” 

“ What do you mean, man,” now cried Willy, whose 
perplexity and passion had at last reached an unwonted 
climax for him. 

“ I mean that my hold is full of it, my cabin even is 
stocked, have some here, and except you, my friend 
Willy, the Chinaman yonder is the only man I have 
found that knows her as she is.” 

Willy now stood dumbfounded. 

“ I’ll show you all,” said the commodore. The whistle 
shrilly sounded, the nondescript instantly appeared. 
“ Bring the bumpers, five,” said the commodore, hold- 
ing up the fingers of one hand. As before, the nonde- 
script reappeared with the same gigantic decanters \ 
the muskets popped like the discharge of a battalion, 
the phiz of five steam engines rushed through the room. 
Under the magnetic compulsion of the commodore, 
whose example they were to follow evidently for in- 
struction and explanation, five faces were buried in 
mists and four, if not six, throats made musical by 
gurgling, for, as before, the nondescript repeated in 
partial draughts his experiment upon the functionary. 
When they had all finished and stood regaining their 
normal lung power, a strange thing happened, the keen 
eye of the commodore detected it : “ Behold,” he cried, 
“ the miracle, Chinaman Redivivus, he who was dead 
has come to life. Here, this gentleman, Li Hung, 
knows what this is,” holding the now empty, huge glass 
before him, the commodore cried, “ What is this Li ? ” 
The functionary opened his eyes, blandly smiled, and 
uttered the monosyllable “ Hur.” 

“ Her, her ! who does he mean ? ” gasped Willy. 

“ Why, hur, hur. I thought you knew her,” replied 
the commodore. “ The great East India beverage, im- 
ported by me on this trip for the first time in this 
country.” 


HAROLD GODWIN 69 

“ Oh, I see ! ” said Willy. “ You call this wonderful 
decoction ‘ her.’ 

“ Yes,” said the commodore. “ That’s its name in 
its native place of vintage, in the Jung-pa-tha of East 
India.” 

“ Thank God for this deliverance,” said Willy. 

“We may well thank God for the greatest beverage 
ever, I believe, introduced to the gentlemen of this age,” 
returned the commodore, misconstruing Willy’s thank- 
fulness. 

“ And you had no reference to the Aphrodite, the 
beautiful Aphrodite ? ” 

“ Reference to her? No, not that I know of, my ref- 
erence is to Hur, H-U-R,” replied the commodore, 
spelling each letter. 

“ Well, Mr. Marplot,” said Willy to Mr. Mcllroy. 
“ What have you to say ? ” 

“ My senses have deceived me — I am no longer sane. 
I perceive the awful mistake.” 

“ What mistake ? ” queried the commodore. “ Is 
it possible that there can be an explanation after so 
serious a difference between the gentleman and my- 
self?” 

“ The mistake,” now interposed Delnot, “ is a very 
natural one and in every way explicable. It arose from 
the commodore’s idiomatic use of the word her. Do 
you understand, Commodore ? ” 

“ No,” replied the commodore. “ I can’t see it. I 
demand my satisfaction.” 

“ Commodore,” said Delnot, “ in the use of the word 
‘ Hur ’ Mr. Mcllroy applied your remarks about import- 
ing, etc., to the beautiful Aphrodite, whereas in truth 
and in fact, you applied the term to this delicious and 
wonderful beverage, a rational mistake of terms and 
pardonable among gentlemen.” 

“ How pardonable, Delnot, or how natural ? ” ob- 
jected the commodore. “ You might as well call this 
oriental functionary here a liar because his name is Li, 


70 


HAROLD GODWIN 


and hang him because his name is Hung. Is such an 
application of language natural or excusable ? ” 

“ Your illustration is fair enough, Commodore,” said 
Delnot, laughing, “ but I, as your second, let me remind 
you, am the judge, and under the circumstances, and 
in view of that ambiguity of language and that uncer- 
tainty of intent which is an inherent part of all human 
conduct, I must construe the explanations mutual and 
declare this affair amicably and honorably adjusted by 
and between each and every and all persons concerned.” 

“ Well, if I can’t wing him,” said the corrimodore, 
sotto voce, “ we’ll have some more of hur.” The 
whistle shrilled once. The nondescript appeared, the 
command was given, “ Bring the bumpers, five.” The 
nondescript reappeared and the decoction was disposed 
of as before, only with more eager zest by the commo- 
dore’s guests. 


CHAPTER XI 


THE ISLAND 

On the Atlantic coast near the Florida shore there ex- 
ists a number of little islands, which like sentinels seem 
to stand guard for the mainland against the violence 
of the huge ocean that perpetually thunders on the 
sandy beach. Back of these islands are found rivers 
and inlets, often connected with each other and with 
the sea, and sometimes extending far into the inland. 
These inland rivers though tortuous and frequently 
narrow, generally retain their depth, and the navigator 
who reaches them after successfully passing the bars 
and dangers of the outside ocean, finds himself in a 
charmed area of safety and beauty. The tall palms 
and vine clad oaks cluster close to the edge of the deep 
water, and surround the vessel with a bower of mosses 
and wild flowers. 

It was in these labyrinths of safety and repose that 
the buccaneers of early times found an asylum from 
their foes and the dangers of the sea, and hither they 
retired to enjoy with unrestrained license the fruits 
and spoils of their prohibited vocation. Here on the 
deep green sward, shadowed by the dense foliage, the 
pirate spread his highly colored fabrics plundered from 
the commerce of the world, and reclined upon them at 
ease while he quaflfed the rarest wines of the vintage 
or whispered love to some willing captive. 

Such was the inner shore of one of these islands in 
particular. It was somewhat larger than the rest, and 
of the shape of a crescent. The outer edge or front 
beach convexed toward the sea, and the inner shore was 
fringed with dense groves. Near the center and masked 
7i 


72 


HAROLD GODWIN 


by the shrubbery were the ruins of an old fort, unques- 
tionably the remains of an ancient piratical stronghold. 
Not far from the fort and on the very edge of the natu- 
ral forest were other huge piles of ruins of imported 
stone, once the home probably of the buccaneer chief. 
The condition of the stone showed that the building 
had been dismantled, not by time, but by forceful de- 
sign, perhaps in calculating revenge for some terrible 
deed committed there. On one side of this ruin was still 
growing in unkempt confusion and the abandonment 
of semi-tropical vegetation, an umbrageous grove of 
orange and lemon trees. 

The perfection of coast climate is to be found upon 
these islands. The gulf stream and warm white sands 
unite their influence to temper in constant degree the 
atmosphere of winter, so that it might be truly said 
of the island as by the Hyperborean : 

“ I come from a land in the sunbright deep 
Where golden gardens glow, 

Where the winds of the north becalmed in sleep, 

Their conch shells never blow.” 

The summer climate is scarcely less salubrious ; and 
the soft, balmy, cooling breeze of the ocean seldom fails 
to bring its messages from the deep to the refreshing 
shades of the answering groves. 

By a singular accident the currents of fashion have 
deflected travel from a knowledge of this Peloponnesus 
of the American coast, and the navigator generally 
gives this part of the Atlantic a wide berth for fear of 
a heavy gale and a lee shore. 

It was to this comparatively unknown region that 
Harold repaired for solitude, and there he sought re- 
tirement from that world in which he had been so great 
a favorite. Health, beauty, wealth and friends had 
been showered on him without stint, the four greatest 
gifts to mortality, according to the Greek poet ; 


HAROLD GODWIN 


*3 


The first of gifts to mortal man is health, 

The next is beauty’s matchless flower, 

The third is guiltless and unfraudful wealth, 

The fourth with friends to pass youth’s joyous hour.” 

All these had been his, and at last without regret and 
still in the possession of health, beauty and friends, he 
abandoned the world that adored him, to seek in silent 
contentment the repose and solitude of an ocean island. 

This island was Harold’s by descent, and was of too 
little value to become an item of account in his thought- 
less system of expenditure. Some years before, at- 
tracted by the charm of the place, he had built a sub- 
stantial cottage on the front beach and established a 
small plantation. But the superstitious negroes dreaded 
the natural solitude of the ocean and groves. They 
declared the island was haunted, and gradually departed 
to more thickly settled neighborhoods. But two aged 
men and their wives remained at this time, who culti- 
vated the gardens and looked after the premises. The 
faithful John refused to be separated from Harold and 
followed him into the retirement of the island. 

Daily might Harold be seen angling with his fishing 
pole in the shady and sequestered nooks of the back 
beach, or casting his lines far into the dancing billows 
of the front beach. From this source was supplied 
principally by his own exertions the freshest and most 
delicious fish that ever graced the table of an epicure. 
No less palatable was the flesh of the Spanish curlew, 
a bird that abounds in that vicinity. A little garden 
furnished the tender vegetables that were needed, and 
an occasional expedition to the distant settlement was 
the means of acquiring the few additional household 
articles required. 

Contentment took up his residence with Harold on 
this happy island, and became his daily and nightly 
companion. When Harold walked forth he experienced 
a calm satisfaction in all that he observed ; the waves of 
the ocean broke on his ear with musical rhythm, the sun- 


74 


HAROLD GODWIN 


light glanced gleefully o’er land and sea, the evening 
came with mellow tints to woo the day to peaceful rest, 
and at night, fatigued with the harmless pursuits of 
the day, he, too, sank into peaceful rest, the sleep of 
the just, undisturbed by dread images of an evil past, 
or of wrongs committed upon others. The excesses of 
his youth had left no stain of crime or vice to torture 
his memory, or to turn sleep into a riotous impeachment 
of conscience. In the sleep of the wicked, memory 
ruthlessly tears from the past the horrible events of 
crime, and flaunts them in the charnel house of a terri- 
fied conscience. The wicked sleeper starts into wake- 
fulness and calls for a light or for day, to enable him 
to stifle his memory by will power, and to distract his 
mind from the somber colors that suffocate the senses. 

Harold had not been wicked. Deprived of all do- 
mestic and spiritual guidance, he had simply followed 
the natural dictates of one of his means and disposition. 
But his nature was pure and good, and this innate good- 
ness passed unscathed through dissipations, which, while 
they were somewhat invidious, yet were always elegant 
and artistic, and never coarse, brutal or scandalous. 
His youth had preserved him from the baseness of the 
voluptuary. 

Therefore contentment came to him in the depriva- 
tion of his fortune, and the angel sleep blessed him 
with restful slumbers on his island of solitude. 


CHAPTER XII 


THE VISION 

More than a year had been passed by Harold on this 
island of Contentment, when one day passing along the 
beach at an early hour in the morning, he noticed upon 
the sand marks as of some one who had just been fish- 
ing there. The tracings of the long line that had been 
cast and drawn in again more than once were visible 
upon the smooth beach. At first he thought that some 
of the members of his household might have been fish- 
ing there the afternoon before, but no, the tide which 
at its height must have swept over the spot during the 
night and was still receding, would necessarily have 
removed the marks, which evidently were quite recent ; 
nor was it likely, from the known habits of his house- 
hold, that any of them were playing Nimrod before 
dawn in the morning. Deeply interested, he inspected 
more closely for footprints, but in vain. “ Is it possi- 
ble,” he said aloud with poetic fancy, “ that some Nereid 
has borrowed one of my lines, and has been imitating 
for an hour’s sport, the human art of fishing ? If so, of 
course it is needless to look for footprints, for the 
sprites of the ocean are ethereal and not mortal, and 
skip as lightly over the sands of the shore as 
they do over the waves of the sea, without trace. 
But what if it is a mortal that was fishing here, who 
is it and whence comes? I must make sure if any of 
my household were absent this morning ; though I think 
not.” 

That day on his return upon inquiry he learned that 
no one of his few retainers had been absent from their 
homes during the night or early morning. “ Therefore,” 

75 


HAROLD GODWIN 


76 

he surmised aloud, as he sat after supper on the deep 
piazza, “ it was either a Nereid or a human being. I 
hope it is the former. ,, His mind reverted for a while to 
the pleasant occupation of the day, but it would come 
back to the thought of that spot with the marks of the 
fishing line traced upon it, and as he pondered he re- 
called, that of all the points along the beach, it was there 
the best fishing was to be had. “ Of course,” he said to 
himself, “ the Nereid knew that,” and later he added, 
“ and so did the human being — if it was a human being, 
and that knowledge could only come from experience 
or instruction, unless it was accidental. We will see.” 

The next morning about the same hour Harold re- 
paired to the same point of the beach to find there al- 
most the identical marks. “ It is plain,” he said, “ the 
Nereid or Nimrod is posted where to fish.” But as 
before he could find no footprints whatever, or in any 
direction. 

At the same time on the following morning Harold 
returned to the same place, but the marks were gone, 
swept from the seashore by the retiring tides. “ Nor 
has any visitor, ethereal or otherwise, been here this 
morning since the retirement of the tide,” said Harold. 

Again and again, on successive mornings, Harold 
sped to the curious spot, without success. “ The tide 
has now changed,” said Harold, “ the bass will not bite 
now. I must wait until the next opportune tide.” 

In about ten days thereafter, and for several suc- 
cessive mornings, the marks were there as before, with- 
out footprints; and then as before they ceased to ap- 
pear. “ How foolish I was,” said Harold, “ that I did 
not go there before daylight and perhaps execute a 
surprise. But if it is a nymph, I must have a care, for 
by the beautiful theology of the ancients, the mortal 
eye that gazes upon immortality becomes blind.” 

Carefully biding and calculating his right time, Har- 
old cautiously, under cover of the darkness of night, 
approached the interesting spot. Anxiously he surveyed 


HAROLD GODWIN 


77 


the surroundings but nothing was to be seen. It was as 
dark there as elsewhere and as motionless. “ The nymph 
is laughing at me,” thought Harold, “ and will not ap- 
pear,” and he gradually turned his head in the direction 
of the ever sounding waves that broke now gently in 
ripples on the eastern shore. Orion, behind him, was 
slowly plunging into the western horizon, where, like 
Apollo, as the happy ancients believed, he would em- 
bark in a swift speeding vessel and traverse the cir- 
cumambient ocean to start the following morn in his 
aerial race. “ It is nearly time for Eola with morning 
zephyrs, to open the gates of the East through which 
the sun-god will drive. Ah, there's the first saffron 
tint that heralds his coming.” These were the thoughts 
that filled his mind. 

Hark! he hears something. And looking in the di- 
rection of his search, he sees speeding into increasing 
distance a dim and vanishing figure. 

“ Well,” he said gently, “ there’s the vision ; it is not 
a nymph, for I still can see. If unfollowed, it may re- 
turn.” But it did not return. 

With plain view of daylight he inspected the place 
and found similar marks, though not so many, as on the 
previous occasions, but no footprints whatsoever. 

“ It is not a man, that’s also plain,” said Harold, “ or 
his footsteps would be pressed on this sand, although 
quite firm. The garments that fluttered as she fled 
proved this also. I see, she had cast and returned the 
line a few times, when the first coming rays of light 
disclosed my shadow, and then she fled just as I turned. 
Well, I’ll try it again.” 

The next morning found Harold at his vigils, but 
without results. “ This time,” he lamented as he turned 
his steps homeward, “ I have seen neither the marks of 
the line nor even the specter.” Nor did he any more. 

It was plain now to Harold that the island was in- 
habited by this being, that knew the best fishing point 
and came and went upon the beach without leaving any 


HAROLD GODWIN 


78 

visible manifestation of her presence. Perhaps, he 
thought, this was the ghost that had frightened the 
negroes away, and he concluded to keep his knowledge 
to himself, and to fathom if possible the strange and 
interesting problem. 

Daily for a long time he explored the most distant 
as well as the proximate portions of the island, the 
groves, the ruins, the vine clad grottoes, but in vain. 
His search yielded nothing but entertainment and an 
increased appetite. And one evening at dusk, as he 
reclined in a hammock upon the piazza, he said aloud 
with a smile, “ I really believe this vision has possessed 
me with a spell. I seem this moment to be within the 
subtle influence of some unseen eye within yon hedge. 
Hey there ! ” he cried. The slightest rustle of the leaves 
was heard. “ Good,” he continued, “ I cannot be mis- 
taken. Some one moved and has sped away. We will 
see to-morrow ; the footing about that part of the 
hedge is soft and sandy and to-morrow will explain 
this mystery.” 

Harold could hardly sleep so great was his impatience, 
and with the arrival of visible daylight he was in the 
garden and at the hedge. “ At last,” he said, “ the mys- 
tery is solved,” and then pausing — “ No, not solved ; 
the mystery is not solved, but just commenced. But 
unquestionably it is a human being and a woman, and 
with the foot of a nymph by this print, if nymphs have 
feet, but the mystery is, where on this island can she 
find a habitation ? ” The prints were those of a woman’s 
foot, very small and well shaped, and soon disappeared 
on the firm ground. “ Now I understand,” said Harold, 
“ the sand on the beach was firm enough not to yield to 
these little feet.” His search was redoubled and as 
before without success, but often about the same houi 
in the piazza he felt as if some one were peering at 
him from the near hedge, and afterwards found the 
same footprints there. More than once he essayed to 


HAROLD GODWIN 


79 

address the unknown presence, but nothing came of any 
of his efforts, and the mystery remained as before. 

Then he wrote notes to the unknown nymph as he 
had begun to picture her in his mind, calling upon her 
to have no fear and to reveal herself, and pinned them 
to forest trees, sometimes distant and widely remote. 
The notes were always certain to be taken away, but 
no answer returned. Finally he said: “ Now I have it; 
this child of Nature must be addressed in the language 
of Nature,” and taking from the garden near by a ja- 
ponica white and clear, he placed it beneath a certain 
favorite oak. On the next morning he found there in 
its stead, with the dew fresh upon it, a wild rose bud. 

The exchange of flowers in time became regular and 
expected. This tree was in the grove on the inner 
beach close to the deep waters, at a point immediately 
back of the old fort. It became a favorite resort of 
Harold. He passed much of his time there alone, but 
conscious that a divinity not altogether careless as to 
himself, came there and breathed the atmosphere and 
sanctified the place, while she removed his flowers and 
replaced them with her own offerings. 


CHAPTER XIII 


THE SPANISH WILL 

Harold's existence upon the island was now not only 
one of contentment but one of active interest in the 
affairs of life and particularly in the mysterious person- 
age who so successfully eluded his search. His senti- 
mental imagination took pleasure in attributing to the 
unknown the possession of various agreeable qualities 
of person and understanding, but having never seen 
this person his sound judgment protected him, he 
thought, from too serious a committal of his feelings. 
He said to himself, “ She may be aged and toothless 
and ugly, and while I have great respect for old age, 
I would have to laugh at myself for dodging around 
these trees and writing ditties to the superannuated ; 
and if she is young and beautiful she might possess 
traits of character that would deter confidence and 
respect. She has the advantage of me. She has often, 
no doubt, seen me from the hedge near the piazza, and 
perhaps elsewhere on the island from her point of con- 
cealment. If modesty has restrained her up to this 
time, good sense now justifies an avowal of her iden- 
tity." 

He was walking in a favorite and shady bower on the 
back beach of the island and had scarcely finished the 
above utterance, when he was gratified to behold before 
him in the same path, and walking slowly in the same 
direction, the object of his thoughts. With quickened 
footsteps he drew near. The lady started a little for an 
instant, but did not seek to elude him. As he approached 
he noticed the almost fragile delicacy of the form before 
him and the gentle grace of her movements. He 
80 


HAROLD GODWIN 


81 


hastened his approach and was about to address her, 
when she turned and paused, as he did also. An im- 
penetrable veil covered her features. 

“ I trust I am not trespassing on your morning 
walk,” said Harold, taking off his hat with a pleasant 
smile. 

She stood still and silent as a statue. Harold, em- 
barrassed in his turn, repeated his question, this time 
very diffidently. 

The figure relaxed visibly and bowing gently, she 
said in a voice as soft as the mellowest tones of the 
nightingale, “No sir, you are not trespassing.” 

“ I was afraid I was,” replied Harold, “ considering 
the long time I have been engaged trying to make your 
acquaintance without success.” 

“ I didn’t know but you were a stranger on this 
island, and I don’t know yet,” she said softly. 

“ I am not a stranger on this island, though I have 
not before this time been here for several years. But 
how long have you been a resident here ? ” 

“ I may not answer your question until I know more. 
If you are the heir and owner of the island,” — she 
paused as if expecting an answer. 

“ I am,” said Harold. 

“ And your name is Harold Godwin,” she said, her 
voice betraying the excitement of expectation. 

“ It is,” replied Harold, now appreciating from the 
manner of her question that she was controlled by no 
ordinary conventional motive. 

“ Then if you are Harold Godwin,,” she said slowly, 
“ and I believe you are, it is you whom I wish to see 
and have wished daily to see for a long time, but I was 
obliged to be circumspect,” and she made a bow to 
Harold which he could not construe, but in like 
manner returned. 

“ And now,” resumed Harold, “ may I ask you how 
long you have been a resident of this lonely island ? ” 

“ This and much more you may ask and I will answer, 


82 


HAROLD GODWIN 


but not now. We may not talk freely now.” She 
paused as if for strength, and then continued, “ To- 
morrow I will meet you here. In the meantime,” she 
paused again, and drawing from her bosom a parch- 
ment writing she handed it to Harold — “ you will take 
this and examine it carefully ; it concerns you as the heir 
of your father. All that is mentioned in that parch- 
ment and more is subject to your command.” 

Harold took the parchment, but was quite dumb- 
founded at the drift the mystery had taken; and was 
constrained to forego his impatience as she gently 
bowed and withdrew through the sylvan glades. 

On arriving at home Harold examined the document, 
which was many years old and written in Spanish, with 
an English translation annexed. It purported to be a 
will solemnly made by one Johannes di Granada 
whereby a large amount of personal property described, 
was absolutely bequeathed to Harold Godwin, and his 
heirs forever, with the request that suitable provision 
be made in favor of one Theo, an infant daughter of 
the devisor, and her heirs. The said Harold Godwin 
and his heirs were appointed by the will guardians of 
the person of the said Theo, after the death of the de- 
visor and the father of the devisor. 

A schedule of the property in diamonds, precious 
stones, gold bullion, gold coin, bales of laces, silks 
and oriental fabrics, great casks of silver, glass 
and chinaware of East India manufacture and other 
rare and costly products, in all figured up in aggregate 
in value of many millions of dollars. 

Harold’s astonishment at these revelations was great 
indeed. What could it all mean ! “ This will,” he sur- 
mised . aloud, “ was evidently in behalf of my father 
and his heirs. But why and wherefore. It is genuine 
I doubt not,” examining the signatures and attestations. 
“ And furthermore I have no doubt of the truth of her 
statement that this property still exists intact. Verily, 
truth is stranger than fiction.” And he fell into a curi- 


HAROLD GODWIN 


83 


ous frame of musing for the rest of that eventful day. 
“ Why does she keep her features concealed ? ” he 
asked. “Is she a veiled prophetess of Khorassan? 
Perhaps John may know something about this name in 
the will,” he continued, “ and I'll just call him and 
see. It’ll do no harm if it does no good ; and my faith- 
ful John would never say anything about this matter 
any way.” 

In response to Harold’s call the faithful John entered 
the piazza in which Harold was then reclining in a ham- 
mock. 

“ Take this paper, John, and look at it,” said Harold, 
you will find it is a will purporting to leave my father 
and his heirs a vast amount of property.” 

John took the paper and opened it reverentially when 
he heard the old master figured in it, and actually 
smiled at the import of Harold’s words — the thought of 
fortune restored. John grieved deeply though he said 
nothing, at the loss of fortune that had overtaken the 
young master, and life on a lonely island was not be- 
coming, in his opinion, the dignity of the great family 
with which he and his ancestors had been associated 
as proud and loyal retainers for so many generations. 
He therefore, as he glanced over the will, smiled as he 
said, “ The paper must be all right, Mr. Harold, though 
I don’t really know of my own knowledge anything 
particular about it.” 

“ Do you happen ever to have heard in my father’s 
time the name used in that document, Johannes di 
Granada ? ” 

“Yes, sir; I’ve heard the name; but I can’t quite 
place it. Wait a minute sir, it seems to me there is 
some such name as that on some of the old silver. With 
your permission sir, I will look into the silver box. I 
think I know now the very piece that is so marked.” 

“ By all means, let us find it if possible,” replied 
Harold with animation. In a few minutes John re- 
turned and handed Harold an old handsome silver cup 


HAROLD GODWIN 


84 

with gold lining and of curious workmanship, on which 
was engraved : “To Harold Godwin from Johannes 
di Granada. In lasting acknowledgment.” Harold 
took the cup and began to study it attentively. 

“ And another thing comes to my memory, Mr. Har- 
old, about that cup. To the best of my recollection it 
was about ten years ago or perhaps fifteen years ago. 
One evening, late, a tall, dark man who gave no name 
or card, accompanied by a little girl, called on the old 
Master at Hillstone, and remained as guests there one 
night, and I recollect now, for it struck me as strange 
at the time, that the master while he was entertaining 
the stranger that night called for that very cup and 
drank his wine out of it.” 

“ No doubt that was Johannes di Granada,” said 
Harold. “ What sort of looking man was he? ” asked 
Harold. 

“He was a tall, swarthy man, with black, piercing 
eyes.” 

“ Did you ever see him again ? ” asked Harold. 

“ No, sir ; nor did I ever hear the old master say a 
word about it, from that day to this.” Continued John : 
“ Does Mr. Harold think that all this wealth that is 
to be restored to the family by this will, is still in actual 
existence and can be reached at this late day ? ” 

“ I don’t know about it being restored to the family,” 
said Harold with a smile, “ but I have no doubt of 
its existence substantially as set out in the document, 
and that it is in safe custody. But I don’t know about 
our right to it, and really don’t care much about it 
except as a curiosity, I’m not thinking about that. 
What is wealth, compared with the quiet of this 
island ? ” 

“ Excuse me, Mr. Harold,” said John, “ the island is 
good enough, but the old master’s name was a great 
power, and I would like to see the young master own 
again at least Hillstone, the home of his ancestors.” 

“ I don’t know but what you are right about Hill- 


HAROLD GODWIN 


85 

stone. There is a just and honorable sentiment in what 
you say, and Hillstone is the only regret I have. But 
we must not permit even an honorable sentiment to 
make us avaricious, we may justly squander our own 
patrimony but we may not unjustly acquire the patri- 
mony of others. My father, I think, would rather see 
me absolutely pauperized, than prosper at the expense 
of others.” 

“ That's true, Mr. Harold, but gentlemen of your 
school sometimes refuse to claim their own, when they 
ought to and are entitled to it.” 

“ A suspicion of wrong or injustice about his posses- 
sions should be unendurable to a gentleman. The day 
has passed when our ancestors perched in their castles 
on the mountain tops, considered it becoming to swoop 
down on the merchant and the wayfarer and to rob 
them of their belongings. The refinement of the true 
gentleman of to-day demands, in the language of Eurip- 
ides, that wealth shall be “ guiltless and unfraudful.” 

“ But, Mr. Harold,” replied John, “ what are you go- 
ing to do about these gentlemen that Mr. Delnot writes 
speeches about, that make great fortunes in corners 
and combines ? ” 

“ Now John, don’t get me into politics ; I can only 
take care of my own morals. Speaking of Delnot, has he 
been making some more of his great speeches ? ” asked 
Harold. 

“ Yes sir, I will bring you the New York papers, that 
come in a bunch every quarter when the boat goes to 
Uintah. I’ll bring you the papers,” said John, delighted 
to see his young master interested in something other 
than the island. 

“ No, John, don’t bring me the papers. I have not 
read a newspaper once since I left civilization with its 
cares and contentions, and I shan’t now. When one 
slumbers in peace and contentment, why should he 
awaken himself by reading the crimes, calamities and 
painful vicissitudes of everyday life as they appear in 


86 


HAROLD GODWIN 


the great journals of this country, and concerning some 
of which my friend will undoubtedly speak. No, it is 
wiser to be ignorant. But John, in a few days I may 
learn something more about this curious will, and now 
I must go and set my night lines on the back beach.” 
And so saying, Harold arose from his hammock and 
passed through the twilight. 

John gazed after him, and said, “ happy be the 
day when the Lord will send back to the old house the 
wealth and greatness of the past, and I feel in my bones 
that there is something in that old Spanish parchment. 
But Mr. Harold, he cares as much for water,” and he 
picked up the document from the floor where it had 
fallen and placed it in the room of the young master. 


CHAPTER XIV 


HIDDEN TREASURE 

The next day Harold repaired to the old tree on the 
back beach. There he found that she whom he sought 
had already preceded him. She was seated on the grassy 
bank at the foot of the great tree, and was attired much 
as before, in a long, flowing fabric of rich texture held 
together at the waist with silver clasps; her features 
were concealed as before by a veil. As Harold ap- 
proached she arose and bowed to him with easy grace, 
and motioned him to be seated near her. Harold 
thought he perceived evidence of great languor in her 
movements. 

“ I hope,” began Harold, “ that this beautiful morn- 
ing brings to you good health and good spirits.” 

“ The morning is indeed lovely,” she replied, omitting 
all reference to the latter portion of Harold’s query. 

“ I think this island enjoys a favored climate. The 
winds of winter are tempered and the gales of sum- 
mer are always cool; and the sunlight nearly always 
streams upon it even through the rifts of the storm 
clouds, when the rest of the firmament is lowering.” 

“ No doubt some day the sun will cease to shine upon 
it, and the clouds will be darker because before then 
they have been brighter.” 

“ You must believe in compensation on the part of 
Nature,” said Harold leaning against the tree, as if for 
support. They both remained silent for a few mo- 
ments. 

“ Come,” she said, “ my first duty is to take you to 
the cave,” and she arose with suddenness. “ Perhaps 
I am delaying too long.” 


87 


88 


HAROLD GODWIN 


“ You are not delaying at all. What have we to do 
with time here? ” replied Harold, arising and trying to 
be gay, despite the solemnity of his companion. 

“ We have much to do with time,” she said seriously, 
“ follow me.” 

Harold followed silently. The figure before him was 
frail and he began to notice that she walked rapidly for 
a few moments at a time and then quite slowly, and with 
footsteps almost tottering, and then again as if sum- 
moning resolution anew, she would start forward afresh. 
She picked up in her path an oaken staff and at times 
leaned heavily upon it. 

“ Are you ill ? Can I be of any assistance to you ? ” 
he asked. 

The veiled figure replied calmly, “ Not yet,” and 
walked rapidly on. 

Finally coming to a clump of very thick underbrush 
and oaks near the old fort, she pointed to an almost 
hidden stone. 

Harold removed it. Beneath appeared a large, flat 
stone. Again she pointed. With some effort, this 
stone also was removed, when a third stone, still larger, 
appeared. With very great effort on Harold’s part, 
this massive stone was also removed, and at his feet to 
his great surprise there opened a firm set of stone steps 
descending to a subterranean chamber below. De- 
scending the steps, they entered this chamber, which 
was filled on either side with boxes, anchors, flasks, 
hogsheads and chains, indiscriminately thrown to- 
gether. 

At the further end of this chamber, she pushed to 
one side a panel in the wall and a secret door opened 
into a larger well ventilated and tolerably lighted apart- 
ment. Taking a lantern from the wall she lighted it, 
and the rays of the light disclosed still more clearly, a 
large ware room, filled with casks, hogsheads and 
boxes. “ These boxes are made of cedar and cypress,” 
she said, “ and recently I examined some of them and 


HAROLD GODWIN 


89 

found their contents perfectly preserved. Many of the 
fabrics they contain were made by hand among the 
Orientals, and are many of them among the lost arts 
of manufacture. They will be prized for their rarity. 
You will find in this chest some laces more rare and 
costly than anything now to be seen in France or Italy. 
Once,” she said with a half-suppressed sigh, “ I was 
fond of laces.” She continued — “ the silks in many of 
these chests are worth their weight in gold. But 
come,” and she led him to another panel. A door 
opened upon a chamber. “ This,” she said, “ is the sil- 
ver chamber, so called because all these boxes and 
casks are filled with coin and bars of that metal; and 
here,” traversing the chamber and opening another 
door, “ is what is known to ourselves as the gold cham- 
ber. These chests are filled with gold in various forms. 
These two chests ” — pointing to two in particular — 
“ are filled with precious stones and costly jewelry. My 
father used a few from this chest ” — opening one of 
them — “ but the other which he told me is by far the 
more valuable, and long ago belonged it is said to a 
Persian ruler, remains untouched.” 

Harold beheld a thousand dazzling rays of varie- 
gated light, blazing from the varied riches of the 
opened chest. He was a connoisseur of beautiful 
stones. He plunged his hand into the beautiful mix- 
ture, and the colors of Nature’s rainbow were eclipsed 
as the rays of light fell upon the stream of flashing 
scintillating splendor that poured in living magnificence 
from his hand. 

“ Beautiful ! beautiful ! beyond expression,” cried 
Harold. 

“ Oh thank you,” said his companion, for the first 
time with some warmth. “I can’t tell you how pleased 
T am to hear you admire them. I feared you wouldn’t 
fancy anything or care about them.” 

“ Oh who could resist admiration for such beauti- 
ful colors and effects. Look ! ” And not catching 


90 


HAROLD GODWIN 


the drift of her remark again he dived both his hands 
into the wonderful collection and caused to pour again 
the rich stream, when as before the colors of the rain- 
bow were paled by the comparison 

“ Where did they come from ? ” asked Harold al- 
most abstractedly and not yet recovered from the sur- 
prise and pleasure of the beautiful display with which 
he was so suddenly confronted. 

“ It is too late now to ask where they came from. 
It is probable that they came almost direct from the 
Asiatic countries, and that no part of them ever had 
ownership either in Europe or America, until they 
reached the islands in the Caribbean sea. Such of them 
as show European manufacture, and I think I recognize 
early Venetian work on a few of them, had returned 
to their Asiatic owners, before they started on the 
journey that has landed them in the Western Hemi- 
sphere.” 

“ They must have been the property once of some 
Oriental potentate,” said Harold. 

“ My father said they were wrested by his father 
from pirates in the China sea a great many years ago.” 

“ Beautiful ! they are beautiful ! ” reiterated Harold. 

“ It pleases me so much to hear you say so,” and 
continuing, she said, “ These things are all yours by 
an indefeasible and rightful title. I have now per- 
formed the most important part of my duty. I feel my 
strength rapidly failing, but I can meet the end with 
complacency.” 

At these words Harold was greatly alarmed and ten- 
dered his assistance. 

“ Thanks no, not yet. Follow me if you please.” 
And she retraced her steps to the inner chamber, at the 
extremity of which she pressed a button as before and 
a door opened upon a dark gallery. Along this she 
proceeded followed by Harold, for quite a long dis- 
tance. Another door opened, when they entered a 
charming suite of apartments well lighted from above 


HAROLD GODWIN 


91 


and handsomely furnished. “We are now in and 
under the ruins of the old buildings, which have been 
utilized for the purpose of giving these apartments the 
necessary air and light. By ascending the little stair- 
case ” — pointing to some steps leading to an upper 
window — “ you will find yourself on a level of the upper 
ruin, and from there you may readily descend to the 
orange grove below.” 

During this conversation, she several times paused 
as if to gain strength for the effort she was sustaining. 

Harold again interposed. “ I fear — I am sure that 
you are taxing your strength in some way beyond en- 
durance, and again I must beg of you to command me 
and let me assist you.” 

“ Not yet,” she replied, “ though my duty is nearly 
done.” 

Harold longed to ask her questions concerning her- 
self and her antecedents and strange residence on the 
island, but the manifest weakness of this strange per- 
son deterred him from then imposing upon her the bur- 
then of a conversation prompted by selfish curiosity. 

Seeming to divine his very thoughts she continued, 
“ I am the Theo spoken of in the will, and the only liv- 
ing descendant of my family. My mother, father and 
grandfather have all gone to another world. My 
mother died, when I was an infant, of incurable con- 
sumption and that malady has been transmitted to me 
with hereditary certainty. This I have known now for 
a long time, and of late I have suffered greatly from the 
internal ravages of the disease. I feared I should 
fail to see you. From early youth I have been taught 
to regard your father and his family with reverence 
and affection, and to see that the directions of the will 
were conveyed to you and the wishes of my father and 
grandfather obeyed, has been to me a sacred and of late 
an anxious trust. My family for more than a genera- 
tion past is under a great and lasting obligation to your 
father. It was due to his noble generosity that my 


92 


HAROLD GODWIN 


father and grandfather were saved from ignoble perse- 
cution and death in a foreign country among strangers 
and removed from their own resources. Your father, 
a sojourner there at the time, hearing that they were 
Americans and in prison, placed at their disposal un- 
limited means and exercised his great influence whereby 
a fair and impartial trial was secured and their inno- 
cence of the charge of piracy clearly established.” 

“ So you can understand now the devotion of my 
family to yours transmitted from father to child, and 
also you can understand in view of my declining health, 
the anxiety I have possessed to personally meet you and 
discharge the great trust imposed upon me by the in- 
tention of my ancestors and the possession of the will.” 
She paused a moment as before, and then continued, — 
“ and now I have done. My duty is performed, and 
I am at peace with the world.” — Another slight pause. 
“ Will you grant me a request?” she said, turning to 
Harold. 

“ Anything in my power,” he replied. 

“ Then if anything should happen to me now or here- 
after, and it be in your power, promise me that this veil 
which conceals my features shall not for a moment be 
removed. Promise me.” 

“ I promise,” replied Harold, bowing his head sol- 
emnly. 

“ Thanks,” she said softly, “ and now,” she con- 
tinued, “ you tender me your kind services. To-morrow 
I shall need them.” She paused and pressed one hand 
to her heart for a moment. She continued, — “ to-mor- 
row if I shall not meet you bv the dancing waters be- 
neath the great tree, come here if you will, and look 
for me there in that chamber, and until then adieu if 
not farewell.” 

Harold was reluctant to leave the strange figure in 
this strange mood, but there was no misunderstanding 
her manner or intention. It was plainly her wish to be 
alone with her thoughts and that he should withdraw ; 


HAROLD GODWIN 


93 


so following her intent he slowly withdrew, ascending 
with bowed head the little staircase, at the top of which 
he passed through an open door, and in another moment 
stood among the orange trees of the grove. 

On that evening as he lay in his hammock musing 
on the events of the day his fancy carried him back to 
the reading of his childhood and scenes of war, rapine 
and bloodshed, of graceful beauty and intrepid bravery, 
floated in his imagination from the pages of Marryatt 
and Mayne Reid, and he wondered at the strange vicis- 
situdes of fortune that seemed to connect by a link of 
tender humanity, the destinies of his own illustrious 
house with those of a buccaneer chieftain — perhaps. 


CHAPTER XV 


A STRANGE DEMISE 

Harold was punctual to meet his appointment on 
the following morning. As he arrived at the place he 
noted the charm of the soft bower and the pleasant 
sunshine and rippling waters. The balmy air whispered 
among the leaflets and sighed in the deep foliage. 

Suddenly he noticed that a passing cloud had cast 
a shade on the vicinity, the whispering and sighing of 
the breeze ceased, the waters became motionless 
and a deep impressive calm stilled the atmosphere. 
Harold’s sensitive nature was affected by the transition. 
“ Why this sudden change,” he asked in low tones ; his 
very tones seemed discordant, and he sunk again into 
the silence which awed him. 

In a little while the cloud of the moment had passed 
away, the balmy air whispered and sighed as before, 
the waters laughed again and the pleasant sunshine 
and charm of the soft bower returned. 

“ Ah,” cried Harold, relieved, “ The spell is gone.” 
And this time his voice accorded with the lovely sweet- 
ness of all nature, its movements and its rythmic 
sounds. 

For some time he waited, placidly inhaling the fra- 
grance and absorbing the views of bounteous nature, 
and at last he said wonderingly, “ why doesn’t she 
come ? ” 

Ever and again he glanced along the shady walk 
that led to the great tree where he expected her, and 
as he looked he pictured the languid grace of the gentle 
figure and wondered how beautiful the features must 

94 


HAROLD (jiODWIN 95 

be that should properly harmonize with so much sweet- 
ness of voice and grace of action. 

“ She must be beautiful, and this I will realize when 
she shall with approved confidence revoke my promise, 
and permit me to behold the unveiled beauty of her 
features/' 

Flattering himself with this hope he became again en- 
wrapped with the beauty of natural surroundings and 
his thoughts floated with the winds and smiled with the 
waves, and heard soft voices and gentle laughter from 
the flowers and the trees and the waters, sounds only 
heard by the pure and the guiltless, and in his day- 
dream he saw in the place of the dark cloud, a bright 
cloud floating heavenwards and bearing on its bosom a 
veiled angel. 

He started into reality, saying, “ she comes not ; 
surely something has detained her/' And then after a 
few moments' study he continued, “ is it possible that 
the weariness I thought I observed in her manner yes- 
terday, is more serious than I naturally supposed ? " 
After a pause he resumed to himself, “ Of course, de- 
prived as I was of all observation of her eyes and com- 
plexion, it would be difficult to judge of a person's 
physical health. Now is it possible that all through 
her efforts yesterday, she was under a strain to resist 
the mortal attack of some dread manifestation of dis- 
ease? " 

Alarmed at the bent of his thoughts, Harold now 
swiftly betook himself toward the subterranean resi- 
dence. 

Through the orange grove he passed to the window 
still unclosed, and thence down the little staircase to the 
chamber of his former audience. There he stood for 
a moment, and all was silent as the grave. He looked 
toward the door indicated by her; it was open. He 
entered. Lying apparently asleep on a luxurious 
divan was the figure of the veiled woman. 

Her attire was one of the purest white silk, and at 


HAROLD GODWIN 


96 

her bosom she wore the rosebud which Harold had 
given as was his wont, at the meeting before. On the 
tiny feet were soft white slippers, and her hands and 
arms were gloved in white. Her features remained 
veiled beneath the rarest of old gold lace. 

“ She is sleeping, overcome perhaps by the exertions 
of yesterday/’ whispered Harold to himself in a way to 
calm his apprehensions. “ And should I aw T aken her 
from restful slumber ? ” he questioned within. And 
he stood gazing with increasing interest, and a strange 
alarm that continued to assert itself. 

Leaning forward he took a hand in his. A thrill 
passed through him. It was not the hand of the living 
but of the dead. 

With powerful emotion he felt that the graceful 
image would rise no more, that the warm breath that 
animated the gentle body had sped away and left it 
chilled forever, that the swift-footed figure that flitted 
along the sands was fettered and still, and would no 
more listen to the music of the waves or join the chorus 
of the winds ; and yet, he thought, perhaps loosened 
from the retarding habiliments of the body, her spirit 
now floats with the aerial clouds. And the day-dream 
of the morning recurred to him, and again he beheld 
the veiled angel borne heavenward on the bosom of a 
sunbright cloud. “ It was, when the calm of this morn- 
ing occurred,” he said to himself, “ when nature sus- 
pended her happiness, that the spirit of beauty wended 
its way to the sunbright cloud.” 

Profoundly and for a long time, Harold contemplated 
this beautiful image of death, and as he gazed upon the 
silent twin brother of sleep, he was fascinated by its 
restful quiet, so calm and peaceful. The shock of 
horror that at first disturbed him had passed away and 
given place to sentiments of sympathy and kindness. 
“ Sleep,” he said, “ sleep. And God bless the tender 
soul that sought the sunbright cloud this morning.” 

With the help of the faithful John the veiled image 


HAROLD GODWIN 


97 


was in due time and with tender ceremony laid to rest 
near the great tree which had become so dear to her in 
life. And the winds sang their songs to the trees and 
the waves laughed to each other and to the shore, and 
yet a cloud had fallen upon their loveliness, and though 
a new angel had then sparkled in heaven, the body of 
the veiled image had fallen to the earth. 

After the solution of the sad mystery, Harold re- 
turned to the accustomed pursuits of his life on the 
island. He traversed as before the same localities for 
fish and game, and strolled through the same beautiful 
vistas of woodland and seashore. The same balmy 
breezes blew, and the same sun shone with tempered 
shafts. The same ocean thundered or rippled on the 
same sandy shore. 

But a cloud had passed over the landscape and its 
shadow still remained. “ What/’ asked Harold to him- 
self, “ has my eye lost its delight ; can I no longer hear 
the happy music of the winds and flowers; has my 
alertness of frame lost its buoyancy to respond to the 
inviting atmosphere? Why are the stars of night, the 
saffron of morn, the meridian light of midday, the 
tinted evening, all blighted as with a pall ? ” 

And on and on he went daily seeking the fish of the 
sea and the wild birds of the shore, but really seeking 
rest. Sleep that once wreathed his head with smiles 
and flowers now abated her quiet and became wary and 
broken. The bright dreams gradually disappeared and 
somber ones came. The physical powers deprived of 
their accustomed restoration, grew languid and im- 
paired, and his whole beautiful system became “ like 
sweet bells jangled out of tune and harsh.” 

John was not an unmindful observer of the condition 
of the young Harold, and became much grieved to be- 
hold the sad change that had come over him. 

“ I used to think,” soliloquized John, “ that this island 
was a poor place for Mr. Harold to live, but I now see 
it is not so much the place as the mind that makes the 


HAROLD GODWIN 


98 

difference. I would be willing to give all the wealth 
in that old pirate’s cellar to put the master back where 
he was a few short weeks ago, before he fell under this 
spell.” 

About this time Harold entered worn, tired and hag- 
gard, from a long tramp in search of he knew not 
what. 

“ John,” he said, “ I am tired, and yet I cannot rest.” 

“ I’m sorry to hear it Mr. Harold. I wish I could 
take some of your worry on my own old shoulders.” 

“ Thanks John,” said Harold with a faint smile, 
“ when you so express yourself, my strange burden is 
lightened by the knowledge of the affection of at least 
one devoted heart.” 

John could have cried with happiness, but he knew 
the undemonstrative nature of the family. John knew 
the Godwins felt affection deeply, seldom uttered it, 
and never showed it. He noted the momentary relaxa- 
tion of Harold’s features as if the pain of the spell had 
gone. 

“ I think Mr. Harold,” said John, “ that perhaps a 
change of scene would help you some.” 

“ No,” said Harold, dejectedly, “ no mere change of 
scene would help me. Besides John, where would we 
go? We have been everywhere. There’s nothing new 
under the sun.” And he relapsed into silence as he 
wearily laid back in the hammock, his hands clasped 
over his forehead. 

“ Do you remember the time we were in the Philip- 
pine islands and you acted as second for the commo- 
dore in the duel with the Spanish captain ? ” resumed 
John, adroitly endeavoring to divert the sufferer’s 
mind. 

“ That seems so long, so long ago,” wearily replied 
Harold. 

“And remember the captain insisted on swords 
and the commodore on pistols, and the seconds settled 
the dispute by allowing each his favorite weapon, pro- 


HAROLD GODWIN 


99 


vided the distance and position should be selected by 
lot, and the commodore through you won the choice. 
Don’t you remember Mr. Harold,” continued John, 
warming up at the merry recollection. 

“ Yes John I remember, but it seems so long ago — 
like another world,” and he repeated the words “ like 
another world.” 

John paused. Harold continued, “ you believe there’s 
another world beyond this John, don’t you? ” 

“ I believe there is, Mr. Harold, — the old master be- 
lieved it.” 

“ How do you know it John. How do you know 
my father believed in immortality ? ” 

“ Because,” replied John, “ on his death bed — and I 
was there — he told my father who held him in his arms, 
he said to him with his last words, ‘ there is nothing 
here, it is there,’ looking to heaven.” 

Harold was strangely and deeply affected by John’s 
solemn reply, but he said nothing further for quite a 
long time. 

At last John ventured to break the silence. “ I think 
Mr. Harold, a trip to the old place, Hillstone, might help 
you ; don’t you think so ? ” 

Harold brightened up visibly. “ I think it would 
John. I have been thinking of it for some time past.” 

John was beginning to become elated at the thought 
of happy days to return in riches and splendor, and he 
added with as much show of enthusiasm as his perfect 
etiquette would permit, “ and the young master might 
open again the old hall of his ancestors.” 

“ Yes,” replied Harold calmly, “ as a hospital.” 

If lightning had struck John he could not have been 
more completely dazed. “ The idea of the ancestral 
hall of the Godwins being turned into a hospital.” He 
thought — “ The home of elegance and gaiety turned 
into a sanitarium for artistic bloodshed and inventoried 
disease. Those halls that reverberated to music and 
festivity to echo to the groans and lamentations of the 


u o? a 


100 


HAROLD GODWIN 


lame, the halt and the blind. Oh horrors ! such an idea. 
First rather burn it up with its honored and delicious 
memories than turn it into the foul-odored bedlam 
of disease.” 

John looked closely at the master. He was sitting 
as before with both hands clasped over his eyes. A 
terrible thought occurred to John, “ his mind is cer- 
tainly wandering, overcome by want of rest. What 
shall I do for him ? ” he asked himself anxiously. 
“ What can I give him to strengthen the nerves. Ah,” 
he thought, “ a little absinthe,” and he went to the side- 
board and poured out a little green glassful for his 
master. 

Oh, unhappy thought! Unhappy John! who just 
then turned the current of most sacred things, and the 
events of a life for good or evil. He brought the 
little glass of cordial to his master. 

Harold put it to his lips and emptied the contents. 

A few minutes later a subtle and delicious feeling 
of contentment pervaded Harold’s senses. He arose to 
his feet invigorated and restored to his former self. 
“ Why John, that is a wonderful antidote. I feel like 
myself once more. How did you come to think of it ? ” 

“ The old master,” replied John, “ used to take it oc- 
casionally, though very rarely. He used to say, par- 
don me Mr. Harold, that it stimulated the senses but 
damned the soul.” 

“ It is certainly a delicious stimulant of the senses. 
Look John, how beautiful now is the blue of the 
heavens ! How deep the green of the ocean ! ” Then 
breaking off he paused a while and resumed, “ I must 
go out, where nature is undisturbed by humanity. I 
must hear again the soft voices of the wind and listen 
to the loves of the wild flowers,” and he departed 
toward the grove. 

The next day, and the next, and the next very much 
the same thing occurred. Harold came in worn and 
tired. John handed him the subtle mixture, and again 


HAROLD GODWIN 


IOI 


Harold went out rejoicing to enjoy the solitudes of the 
groves. Nothing more was said about the hospital. 

It was after one of these afternoon beverages that 
Harold said to John, “ I think it would be as well for us 
to return to Hillstone.” 

“A good idea Mr. Harold, unless you change your 
mind.” 

“ I shall not change it,” said Harold. 

“ When will we start?” inquired John. 

“ You shall start first John, you can arrange things,” 
replied Harold. “You can go to New York and see Mr. 
Delnot and settle everything about the titles, mortgages, 
if any, etcetera. You will also transact all business for 
me with our old banker, Mr. Lancaster.” 

John was greatly rejoiced to hear this decision, 
which embraced the recovery of and return to, the old 
palatial mansion. 

“ John, bring me one more of those little glasses.” 

This request dampened John’s ardor for a moment, 
as complying he said, “ remember the old master’s 
comment on this stuff, Mr. Harold.” 

“ Thanks John, I shall be careful.” And soon after 
he fell asleep in the hammock and dreamed of the old 
glorious halls with flashing lights and soft voluptuous 
music, sparkling wit and the gaiety of friends ; of Del- 
not, of Warren, of Aphrodite — the beautiful loving 
Aphrodite, — and a hectic flush arose on his brow and 
his lips were again wreathed in the smiles of sleep. 

Oh benign narcotics, that transpose the mind from 
the misery of reality to the dreamy beatitude of the 
ideal. Who would not rather dream deliciously than 
live miserably? Though during those dreams a soul 
is seduced from hope. 


CHAPTER XVI 


SOCIETY PREPARED 

While the events hitherto recounted were occurring 
on the lonely island, events of equal magnitude in the 
lives of the parties interested were transpiring in the 
world of gaiety and fashion of New York City. 

As we have seen, owing to the wit of Delnot and to 
the blunders of the commodore and of Mr. Ward Mc- 
Ilroy, the ostensible objections to the marriage of Willy 
and the Aphrodite were duly removed, and the family 
influence of the Vanderwenters and the active co-opera- 
tion of Mr. Mcllroy, conspired to silence the question- 
ing tongue of scandal, and to make the now accepted 
marriage one of extraordinary note and congratulation 
for society at large as well as the parties concerned, 
for so it was now ordered by society edict. 

“Yes you know,” said Mrs. Vanderwenter to Mrs. 
Oldton who had called, “ I tell Willy the only objec- 
tion to her that we can find is her beauty, which makes 
her notable wherever she goes, so notable indeed that 
the public and the press claim the right to create ova- 
tions and write her praises.” 

“ It is bad, too bad,” said Mrs. Oldton, who had not 
yet caught her cue, “ and Willy is so retiring.” 

“ I don’t know that it’s so bad, one might as well be 
distinguished for great beauty as great wealth, and she 
has both, you know,” 

“ Oh has she ? that is quite charming — both beauty 
and wealth.” 

“ Yes,” replied Mrs. Vanderwenter, “ and then she 
has qualities of a Christian character which we only dis- 


102 


HAROLD GODWIN 


103 


covered yesterday: Rev. Mr. Wainwright told Mr. 
Mcllroy that the beautiful charitable institute on 57th 
street known as ‘ The Retreat for Homeless Girls/ 
is founded and maintained from her personal revenues 
alone.” 

“ My ; what extravagance ! ” answered Mrs. Old- 
ton, “ but charity is becoming quite fashionable in the 
600. But that is going too far for a young woman. 
It would sound better for an old man.” 

“ Why would it sound better for an old man ? ” cu- 
riously asked Mrs. Vanderwenter. 

“ Oh just an idea of sound — it would sound more 
likely and fashionable, that's all,” replied Mrs. Oldton. 

“ Well I can't see the difference,” continued Mrs. 
Vanderwenter. “ As for Willy, he is very happy, and 
Marie Leona and Violanita are delighted with their 
beautiful sister-in-law to be. As soon as the marriage 
has been celebrated, the couple propose an extensive 
European tour. They will leave here on Willy’s new 
steam yacht and will among others visit Willy’s cousin, 
the Duchess of Dundy in England, and probably our 
old friend, the Princess of Montcaron in Paris. The 
Earl of Crossfut says her beauty will create a tremen- 
dous sensation in London and Paris.” 

“ Oh, how beautiful ! Indeed she's charming, be- 
yond question, charming, Willy indeed is to be con- 
gratulated,” replied Mrs. Oldton, now overwhelmed 
and convinced by wealth, splendid titles and beauty, 
though the two former were sufficient for her judgment. 
“ Well,” she said, “ my dear, give Willy my congratu- 
lations and the fiancee my best love” — and old Mrs. 
Oldton departed. 

As she left Mrs. Vanderwenter said, “ This settles 
everything. That old gossip will carry the news to 
every pavilion in society, and what beauty, wealth and 
fashion cannot control in alliance with our family and 
Mr. Ward Mcllroy, is beyond the reach of social influ- 
ence in this city.” 


104 


HAROLD GODWIN 


Just then Willy entered and greeted his mother ten* 
derly. 

“ Are you happy Willy?” she asked. 

“ Yes, my good mother,” he replied. 

“ You look delicate my son,” as she noted the pale- 
ness of his complexion. “ Are you not afraid to marry 
this remarkable woman? ” 

“ No, mother, I don’t reason on the subject at all. I 
accept my present happiness, and believe it will con- 
tinue.” 

“ A mother’s heart will have forebodings any way I 
presume,” she said, and after a slight pause, “ I sup- 
pose immediately after the wedding you will take a 
trip abroad ? ” 

“ Yes mother, I have ordered my yacht held in readi- 
ness for the voyage.” 

“ And,” she continued, “ you must forthwith visit 
your cousin, the Duchess of Dundy.” 

“ Very well, mother, if that is your wish, though 
I’m not particular about it, nor do I think Aphrodite 
cares much.” 

“ That is not the point,” continued his mother, “ it 
is not our feelings or wishes that are to be considered, 
but social effects. It will sound well, and has a grand 
social effect, and as Mr. Ward Mcllroy would say, 
‘ becomes a social function.’ ” 

“ Very well mother, we’ll visit the Duchess of 
Dundy.” 

“ And I hope the Press will herald your coming as it 
should that of distinguished persons.” 

“ No danger about that mother,” replied Willy, 
“the Press never fails to record the movements of 
the Aphrodite. I wish they would leave a fellow to more 
privacy ; but if you say it is also a ‘ social function/ 
why it’s all right.” 

“ Yes,” continued his mother, “ in these days per- 
sons must have notice, and the Press is both a con- 
venient and inexpensive method of gaining distinction, 


HAROLD GODWIN 


105 


in fact in this country it is the only way. In Europe 
of course a title serves the same purpose, but here that 
royal prerogative belongs only to the Press. Oh if 
we only had here an exclusive and noble source of title 
in the place of the ignoble and pandering Press.” 

“ I don’t know,” replied Willy who was little inter- 
ested in these flights of his mother, “ I think the Press 
as an average treats us well, and often better than I de- 
serve.” 

“ How ? what do you mean ? ” queried his mother. 

“ I mean, if the young man who reported my speech 
at the railroad dinner the other evening, had not made 
one up for me, I would have appeared in print in a very 
poor light.” 

“ You don’t understand me Willy. I mean that the 
Press will herald your visit abroad which will give 
eclat there, and the knowledge that you are visiting the 
duchess who you see is a titled person, will give you 
entree and distinction and will strengthen the social 
foundation of your matrimonial venture here, where 
some persons might otherwise cavil and find fault.” 

“ What if they do, they need not disturb me, need 
they ? ” 

“ My dear Willy, it is useless to explain to you. You 
do not understand social finesse, or ethics as Mr. Ward 
Mcllroy calls it. Just like a good son, obey my 
injunctions and all will be well.” 

“ I think I can do that mother — visit the duchess, 
is that it ? ” 

“ Yes,” replied his mother, smiling. “ That is the 
first point after the marriage.” 

She secretly felt the social weakness of this alliance 
and purposed to use her connection with titled people to 
dazzle inquiry and halt criticism. 

Soon after her son withdrew, she continued to her- 
self, “ When my niece married the Duke of Dundy she 
bolstered up his fallen and bankrupt fortunes ; now as 
a just return I shall borrow the lustre of his plumage 


HAROLD GODWIN 


106 

to cover up the defects of this alliance, and make his title 
a useful ingredient in my family affairs/’ 

Just then entered Aphrodite accompanied by Marie 
Leona and Violanita. Marie Leona had entwined her 
arm around the waist of the beautiful woman. Mrs. 
Vanderwenter kissed Aphrodite on the forehead and 
said, “ My child if you had come a moment sooner you 
would have found Willy here,” and then continuing 
with a smile, asked — “ what spell have you thrown 
over him that makes him so devoted a lover ? ” 

“ I might as well ask,” said Aphrodite in return, 
“ what spell Willy has thrown over me to induce me to 
take the doubtful step that trammels the independence 
I have heretofore so thoroughly enjoyed. I can only 
attribute it to the sincerity of the devotion, which you 
have observed, he proffers so unreservedly.” 

Here Marie Leona interjected with the freedom of 
her age, “ Mama I know why Willy loves Aphrodite, 
because he loves her, that’s all.” 

“ Silence Marie Leona,” said Mrs. Vanderwenter, 
with a little show of austerity, “ young ladies of your 
age are not presumed to know anything about such 
things.” 

“ Yes we do though. I can tell it by their eyes. You 
just ought to see how Lord Conwort looks at Vio- 
lanita.” 

“ Silence I say, Marie Leona,” said her mother, se- 
cretly pleased that another title was looking in the di- 
rection of her family. 

“ I think Miss Marie Leona ought to be silenced.” 
added Violanita. 

“ Just before you came in,” said Mrs. Vanderwen- 
ter, addressing Aphrodite, “ I was insisting to Willy 
that immediately after the wedding you should both 
visit my cousin, the Duchess of Dundy, at her castle in 
England. She is as you doubtless know, in the highest 
set, in fact I believe . you might say the Court set in 
England, and she will see that you have full entree 


HAROLD GODWIN 


107 


there. You must understand, that the duke was very 
poor indeed and his father before him, and his estates 
were so incumbered, that he could obtain no revenue 
and they could not be sold, indeed I am told they were 
abominably poor, but the duke enjoyed a title, and 
with my niece’s aid, and moneys settled on him at the 
marriage, he has been enabled to raise the encum- 
brances, and rebuild the dilapidated castle, until now it 
is one of the finest in England, and as a consequence of 
his renewed prosperity, he has become fully recognized 
in the set of which I speak. So I wish you and Willy 
to visit the duchess on your trip.” 

“ Why certainly, if it will please you,” replied 
Aphrodite, “ though for my part in my voyages I have 
been more concerned about the beautiful scenery of 
Scotland and England, than the peculiarities of their 
social sets.” 

“ But now my dear, I hope you will give more 
thought to the social question. Not to be, but to seem 
is now the question. We, you know, I mean my hus- 
band’s family, cannot look very far back in family gene- 
alogy, at least with any great success. Nevertheless it 
happens that we are flattered and sought by the most 
distinguished of the world. I mean titled persons, 
though, at the same time, I admit, frequently the most 
needy, and it becomes us to be fully of the same set, as 
it were, you see.” 

“ The dukes I have seen here in America,” again in- 
terjected Marie Leona, “ are awfully insipid, with not 
half the dignity of our old colored coachman who was 
trained by some gentleman down South.” 

“ Again silence, Marie Leona,” said Mrs. Vander- 
wenter, and she continued, “ it matters not how insipid 
or inferior to our own young men, or actually, truth 
compels me to say, it matters not how (unhealthy or in- 
firm?) they seem to be, they are the fashion for 
the fast set, and hence they are of use to us both here 
and abroad.” 


io8 


HAROLD GODWIN 


Aphrodite nearly shuddered at the plainness of 
speech and the horrid facts discussed in the presence 
of her daughters by this fashionable mother-in-law. 

Mrs. Vanderwenter continued : “ Of course there are 
some of our young men who are eminently eligible. I 
would rather see one of my daughters united to, for in- 
stance, Mr. Harold Godwin than any of these dukes. 
His family is as old and distinguished historically as 
most of the crowned heads of Europe, and is entitled to 
a coat of arms, which he says it is not good taste to 
blazon under a republican form of government. What 
he means by that I don’t know. But Harold Godwin 
will never marry; he is an elegant dilettante and a 
dreamer.” 

At this mention of Harold Aphrodite’s eyes grew 
brighter and her cheeks ruddier with animation. 

Mrs. Vanderwenter continued : “ Also there is that 
old Commodore Tibideau. His grandfather when ten- 
dered a title abroad declined it, saying that an American 
gentleman could not recognize any higher title than the 
simple one he already possessed of gentleman.” 

“ Why ma,” said Marie Leona, “ a girl might as well 
try to marry a grizzly bear as the old commodore.” 

“ Silence Marie Leona. Now all that may be very 
good for great historic families like the Godwins and 
the Tibideaus, but the recent families, like the Goldies 
and the Holdoffs and the Vanderwenters and a hundred 
others, have no history whatever, nor anything else but 
wealth. They spring more or less suddenly from com- 
merce and adventure. They do not look back with re- 
pose upon their ancestry nor do they wish others to do 
so, so we must in order to stop annoying criticism and 
reminiscence, dazzle the public as well as ourselves with 
brilliant equipage and display, and of all things the most 
convenient now and quite easily purchased are titles; 
ah, they cover a multitude of sins, in a social way. 
Don’t you think so ? ” 

Aphrodite fully understood the bent of Mrs. Vander- 


HAROLD GODWIN 


109 


waiter’s reasoning, but she replied, “ The subject is en- 
tirely new to me in that light, but perhaps as one pro- 
gresses in the experience of the fast set, one will become 
better informed.” Secretly she felt chagrined at such 
sentiments. Upon the same sentiments she was ex- 
cused and justified in any the wildest and maddest 
pranks of her life. She began to ponder on this line 
of fashionable reasoning. A little later when they were 
alone Violanita said to her confidentially, “ Ma wants 
me to marry the Duke of Convort.” 

About this time other callers had arrived, one of them 
seemed quite excited at an accident she had met with. 

“ Indeed it’s quite horrid,” she said, “ my carriage 
was delayed several minutes by a crowd of hoodlums, — 
strikers my coachman James said they were, and they 
howled and jeered at our crest and arms which my 
husband purchased last month and had blazoned on 
our coach. They are simply horrid creatures, and it 
seemed to me that James was in sympathy with them, 
for he drove to the right or to the left just as one of 
them, a kind of leader, directed. Indeed they were hor- 
rid and should be bastinadoed for presuming to stop a 
lady’s carriage.” 

If the speaker could have observed the peculiar 
twinkle in the eye of the waiter who was handing her 
some ice, she might have surmised another sympathizer. 
“ The horrid things,” she continued. “ Strikes are get- 
ting too frequent I think in America. I would prefer 
to live on the continent of Europe, especially in Ger- 
many, where the laboring classes are held in check by 
a standing army officered by the nobility, and taught 
their duty.” 

The ladies sipped ices and chocolate, for by this time 
quite a number formed the party, when Mrs. Larry 
Demore said, “ Did you observe the news in this 
morning’s Journal ? ” 

“ I can’t say that I read the paper this morning,” 
answered Mrs. Vanderwenter. 


no 


HAROLD GODWIN 


“ Well, it said that the queen had returned to Bal- 
moral castle.” 

At the mention of the name “ queen ” almost a rev- 
erential genuflexion took place mentally if not physi- 
cally in the assembly. Some of these had met the 
queen and some had not, but to all she was a being to 
be worshipped with a kind of awful social fear. 

“ So she has returned to Balmoral castle. What a 
lovely place ! ” said the lady who met the strikers 
and who had, by the way, never met majesty, and con- 
tinuing she said familiarly, “ and I wonder how the 
old lady’s health is.” 

“ I understand from Mr. Ward Mcllroy, who gets 
daily bulletins giving her majesty’s temperature, res- 
piration and pulsation, I believe, that she is well,” said 
Mrs. Vanderwenter solemnly. 

“ Oh, how awfully thankful we should be,” continued 
the lady of the strike, “ my husband is well acquainted 
with a member of that absurd Bimetallic Conference 
Commission, or something like that, that visited Eng- 
land some time ago, and he has promised through them 
to get me introduced to the queen, when they go 
again.” 

Mrs. Vanderwenter said gently, "If you had the 
advantage of alliances with the noble families you 
would not have to rely on the dubious presentation of 
questionable politicians.” 

This nettled the first speaker, Mrs. Donio, who re- 
plied, smiling more sweetly than she yet had done, 
‘‘We have not all an alliance with the Duke of Dundy, 
Mrs. Vanderwenter, and how is the dear old gentle- 
man's health ? ” 

“About as well as usual,” said Mrs. Vanderwenter 
not seeing the stab that was coming. 

“What! no better? When we saw him in Baden 
last summer the physicians had amputated part of his 
nose and they said the whole roof of his mouth had 
melted sweetly away. Oh, how I grieve for the poor, 


HAROLD GODWIN 


III 


young duchess. The duke’s health must be a source 
of constant annoyance to her.” 

The blow struck deep, but Mrs. Vanderwenter 
sweetly responded. “ The duke has entirely recovered 
and was at the queen’s reception last week,” laying 
stress on the words queen’s reception. 

Mrs. Donio felt that Mrs. Vanderwenter had the ad- 
vantage, and she experienced an earthquake about her 
own social position in assailing one who was admitted 
to the queen’s presence. She hastened to apologize, 
but made matters worse by saying : 

“ I thought the duke was out of favor with the 
queen, in fact my husband said he had been ostracized 
by the queen for fear of contagion, and — ” 

At this Mrs. Vanderwenter was shocked beyond 
measure. “ Oh,” she groaned, “ what would Mr. Ward 
Mcllroy say.” 

At this conjuration Mrs. Donio became still more 
alarmed. “ I didn’t mean to say that the duke’s case 
was incurable or that he would contaminate all the no- 
bility,” said Mrs. Donio. 

“ Call Mr. Ward Mcllroy! call Mr. Ward Mc- 
llroy ! ” cried Mrs. Vanderwenter, and she burst into 
hysterical tears. At this stage of events the company 
separated and withdrew in great consternation. 

On that evening in her dressing room, while Aimee 
was disrobing and robing the most beautiful of crea- 
tures, Aphrodite, thinking over the events of the day, 
said, “ Aimee, I have done some bad things that you 
know and some bad things that you don’t know, and I 
have about come to the conclusion that there are two 
persons, the physical and the moral, and I don’t believe 
that I ever in my life made a more complete display of 
my physical person than Mrs. Vanderwenter and Mrs. 
Donio did to-day of their moral persons, and that too, 
you may say, in public. It was perfectly shocking. And 
as for the sentiments that that old lady expressed 
about marriage in the presence of her daughters, they 


1 12 


HAROLD GODWIN 


were simply awful. The men of the ‘ fast set ’ I have 
known a long time, and as a rule they are bad enough, 
but the women are worse.” 

Aimee paused a minute to dress Aphrodite’s lovely 
hair. 

Aphrodite continued, “ I saw the queen a couple 
of times when I was in London, and she is no doubt, or 
has been, a very charming old lady, and worthy every 
respect and veneration due her age and position, but 
the farcical adoration rendered by the women I saw to- 
day would be rejected by any respectable person who 
might become victimized by them. Speaking of the 
queen,” and Aphrodite began to laugh, “ Perry Delnot 
said that every time the queen’s name was mentioned 
in his presence, Mr. Ward Mcllroy moistened the tips 
of his fingers and made the sign of the cross,” and 
Aphrodite laughed heartily at the bon mot. 

“ Of course mademoiselle is talking beyond my com- 
prehension just now.” 

“If you had seen and could understand all that I 
am commenting on, it would not improve either your 
mind or your morals, Aimee,” said Aphrodite. 

“ Does Mademoiselle mean to say that the morals of 
the great world where she has been, are below the man- 
ners of a waiting-maid ? ” asked Aimee. 

“ It would seem so, from what I observed to-day,” 
she replied. 

“I thought the rich and the beautiful were good,” 
said Aimee. 

“ The truly rich and beautiful are good, but I fear 
we are among mountebanks.” 

“ Who are mountebanks ? ” asked Aimee. 

“ In your language they call them ‘ the nouveau 
riche.” 

“ Ah,” said Aimee, shrugging her shoulders and purs- 
ing her lips, “ they are always vulgar.” 


CHAPTER XVII 


THE WEDDING 

It was a gala night. The great church flashed all over 
with electricity. It might have been taken for holy fire. 
Fashion was there of course, because it was a “ func- 
tion.” Mr. Ward Mcllroy was there, dignified and 
smiling. The bride and bridesmaids, each and every 
of them, had been within the scope of Worth’s artistic 
influences. The groomsmen were the salt of the clubs. 
The reporters were charmed with the novelty and splen- 
dor of the decorations and lavished their praise on ev- 
erything. 

Delnot and Warren as usual were there and occupied 
seats of strategic advantage. “ What a triumph for 
Aphrodite,” said Warren. “ She is marrying one of 
the richest men in New York, or indeed in the world, 
and all the 600 are throwing flowers at her feet and fig- 
uratively rice, on the occasion.” 

“ Yes, and the Press, if I mistake not by the journal- 
ists personally present, are engaged in the same busi- 
ness.” 

“ What do you think of it all? ” asked Warren, “ you 
know all.” 

“ It is as it should be,” answered Delnot in a judicial 
tone. 

“ Do you think the gay favorite of the banquet duly 
entitled to these distinctions? ” asked Warren. 

“ Like Mr. Blaine, I will answer your question with 
a question. Why not ? ” Pausing for an answer, Del- 
not continued : “ You are an old New Yorker, Warren. 
You know all these people and their ancestors, such as 
have any, what they came from, what they amount to, 
11 3 


HAROLD GODWIN 


II 4 

their true merit, manners and morals, and what actual 
good they confer on mankind — strip them of their 
wealth and Worth’s dresses and the glamour of fashion, 
and wherein have they any advantage over the beauti- 
ful Aphrodite, beautiful, gifted, intellectual and char- 
itable? By the Eternal! I think Willy is getting de- 
cidedly the best of the bargain.” 

Warren did not answer for a moment, and then re- 
marked, “ Besides, Delnot, look at it from another 
point of view. What advantage had these people’s 
mothers or grandmothers over Aphrodite? Why there 
is Miss Gooly, her grandmother was a high kicker at 
the old Bowery, and married her jockey husband, and 
together they fleeced their confiding friends out of the 
fortune that is to-day the basis of the Gooly respecta- 
bility and millions. Then there is the third bridesmaid, 
Miss Wagstafif, why her mother before she married 
the banker is said to have played the role of L’Assa- 
moir. Bosh ! I will go no further.” 

“ Yes,” replied Delnot, “ how readily one is blinded 
by great wealth and fashion. Now we, who know these 
things from our childhood, are scarcely able to recog- 
nize before our very eyes, the squalor and licentiousness 
of a past generation, when we see it bedecked in dia- 
monds and Worth’s costumes of a present generation. 
Now. the chances are it took good and wholesome 
elements somewhere to produce Aphrodite, and we 
know the good and wholesome don’t prevail among the 
people we are discussing.” 

“ After reasoning over the thing,” said Warren, “ I 
think we will agree upon all the conditions that Aphro- 
dite has the advantage in the comparison.” 

“ Decidedly,” said Delnot. 

At this time Mendelssohn’s great wedding march was 
about concluded by the orchestra, and the beautiful cere- 
mony of the Episcopal Church was begun. 

“ Returning to our recollections,” said Warren, 


HAROLD GODWIN 


115 

“ weren’t the Vanderwenters, I mean Willy’s father’s 
family, Methodists?” 

“ Yes, and his grandfather entirely without ecclesias- 
tical record of any kind,” said Delnot. 

“ How does that happen, Mr. Philosopher and 
Critic? ” asked Warren. 

“ That’s easy enough to explain,” replied Delnot. “ In 
this country, the Episcopal Church, on account of its 
solemn, showy forms and ceremonies, has become the 
fashionable church. It also had an advantage at the 
start in having among its members in colonial days 
the aristocracy and local titled persons of the country. 
This early prestige it has never lost, but on the contrary 
increased. A man, frequently, like Willy’s grandfather, 
gets rich outside of the church, by means that neither 
the church nor respectability countenances. The next 
generation are generally found in some great popular 
denomination, like Willy’s father, who was in his youth 
an elder in the Methodist Church ; but when Willy and 
his sisters had imbibed the tastes of a fashionable board- 
ing school to an aesthetic and discriminating point, we 
find the whole family occupying a front pew in the Epis- 
copal church.” 

“ I never thought of that before,” said Warren, 
“ but it is unquestionably the fact. They are all now 
Episcopalians, when we know their antecedents in al- 
most every case belonged elsewhere if at all. But is it 
possible that fashion in this day must regulate a man’s 
creed ? ” 

“ All general rules have their exceptions. The truly 
great old American families that stand like oaks, de- 
spise tergiversation, and continue to worship God in 
the manner of their forefathers, whatever that may be ; 
but we are now witnessing and discussing another type 
of social development, a type which may be as ephem- 
eral as the toadstool, or as lasting as the eternal gran- 
ite, though I think not the latter for virtue and good- 


ii 6 


HAROLD GODWIN 


ness are the only sure foundations of great and lasting 
social establishments.” 

“ But these people would tell you that the early 
founders of European nobility were robbers and free- 
booters,” replied Warren. 

“ There is some show of historical truth for that 
statement, which is only partially true, however, and in 
a minor degree,” said Delnot, and continuing, “ but 
conceding it to be true, force was the motive spirit of 
those creatures, while fraud is the under-current in- 
ducement of these. The robber baron of former times 
who with his retainers charged down from his mountain 
heights upon his prey, was obliged to meet the risks 
and dangers of mortal combat, and in order to be suc- 
cessful had to possess in a high degree the quality of 
physical courage, an ingredient of prime importance in 
the constitution of a race or family and quite trans- 
missible in the shape of strength of character to re- 
sist evil. But the robber baron, as the newspapers call 
them of to-day, is called upon to exercise only cunning, 
covin, deceit, or overreaching calculations by the ag- 
gregation and preponderance of wealth, whereby the 
belongings of large portions of society are secretly and 
stealthily transferred to himself and his associates. And 
this without any fear of physical discomfort except that 
of becoming a defendant in a criminal court. Though 
he escape the condemnation of the courts, he forever 
dreads an inspection of his transactions, and if he has 
a conscience at all, lives in the days of his reflection, 
ashamed of the tricky methods adopted — ashamed of 
himself and his fortune, bequeathing to the next gener- 
ation either no conscience at all or the weakness of self 
conviction. No, Warren, nothing good comes out of 
fraud though there may out of force, for in the adopted 
words of many celebrated writers it is conceded, ‘ force 
is a lion but fraud is a little wolf/ and similar should be 
their progeny.” 

“As the consequence of your long dissertation, which 


HAROLD GODWIN 


ii; 


I admit I invited, we have missed the beautiful words 
of the ceremony/’ said Warren. 

“ Yes, but the words are always the same, though the 
results are various,” replied Delnot smiling. 

Again the orchestra uttered its peans of triumph, 
and all society was about to pour into the sacred aisles 
to follow the procession of the newly dedicated social 
queen, when a little girl was seen advancing up the 
main aisle bearing in her hand a single, beautiful, red 
rose. The rose was so deep in color that it seemed to 
radiate its redness, and almost diverted attention from 
the child whose raiment was of the poorer class and 
not in accord with those around her. The inexpensive 
though neat white dress of the child did not escape the 
attention of the usher as he hastened to prevent a 
breach of etiquette and to overhaul the doubtful invader 
of aristocracy and sanctity. Just as he was about to 
succeed, Aphrodite, who had observed the approach of 
both, gently welcomed the coming of the child, and 
beamed on her one of those rare smiles that never failed 
to gild all within its reach with the happiness of sun- 
shine. The child delivered the charge to the bride. 
Aphrodite in return tore from her bouquet a large white 
rose and gave it to the child, who, now smiling and de- 
lighted, holding up the white rose laughingly, tripped 
down the aisle before the young couple so airily and 
happily that it seemed to all who witnessed the scene 
as if some strange little herald had come from another 
world to escort the bride and groom to the threshold 
of the new world upon which they were about to enter, 
with an omen of good luck. But what meant the red 
rose? 

As Delnot observed the incident of the red rose he 
said abstractedly, “ I wonder if she is actually con- 
nected with them ; but I think not.” 

“ With whom? ” asked Warren. 

Delnot started as he answered, “ Nothing, I was 
just musing.” 


n8 


HAROLD GODWIN 


The two young men floated with the surging, scented 
tide of charming humanity, bowing here and smiling 
there to various acquaintances, and took their coupe for 
the club, later to join the invited guests at the supper 
and at the ball. 

At the club they found the commodore stalking up 
and down one of the apartments like an impatient giant, 
waiting for one of his attendants to fetch his gloves 
of a certain hue that he had forgotten at home at the 
last minute. 

“ Are you not going to the ball, Commodore,” said 
Delnot. 

“ I certainly shall ; if my pearl colors don’t come I 
shall simply wear white, that’s all,” said the commodore, 
and the old gentleman carefully inspected the elegant 
gloves in his hand and to be relied on in an 
emergency. 

“ You surely wouldn’t go in those gloves, Commo- 
dore ? ” said Delnot, secretly testing him. 

“ If the others fail, I certainly shall.” 

“ But they are not the last colors,” said Delnot. 

“ No, but they are close enough,” replied the commo- 
dore. 

“ They might make you conspicuous,” still urged 
Delnot. 

“ Ah, Delnot, that’s serious. Do you really think so. 
I can’t consent to be conspicuous or outre, but anything 
less I can stand.” 

“ Commodore, I was joking. Your judgment is 
right. The colors are close enough for any gentleman, 
though less than a gentleman might fear to deviate a 
hair’s breadth from fashion.” 

“ Fashion don’t annoy me at all, but you are satis- 
fied they will not appear odd, are you not? What do 
you think, Warren?” 

“ Commodore, I think like Delnot, they are all right.” 

“ Well,” said the commodore, “ I used to rely on my 
judgment a good many years ago, but d — n me if the 


HAROLD GODWIN 


1 19 

gaudy dressing one sees now-a-days don’t make me 
color blind.” 

“At any rate,” said Delnot, “ I presume those are 
your colors,” as a small parcel was placed before the 
commodore which he immediately opened and contem- 
plated with satisfaction. “ And,” continued Delnot, 
“ the nice distinction we have drawn on this very im- 
portant subject of color and taste we will have to bury 
in the vast sea of trifling uselessness.” 

“Now Delnot, wherefore are you a philosopher?” 
asked the commodore. “ But before you answer, I will 
ask you a conundrum that I got from Li Hung, and 
he says it’s from Confucius, nor has it any personal ap- 
plication. This, * What is the difference between a phi- 
losopher and a misanthropist ? ’ ” the commodore said 
with great interest. 

“ If Warren can’t answer I surely cannot,” said Del- 
not. 

“ Can you draw the distinction ? ” 

“ I cannot,” said Warren after a moment’s cogita- 
tion. 

“ Well,” said the commodore, “ a philosopher loves 
the world and hates himself, and a misanthrope hates 
the world and loves himself.” 

“ Admirable conundrum, Commodore,” said Delnot 
and Warren, both laughing heartily. 

“ I claim no credit myself, that is one of Li Hung’s. 
But I have no great confidence in his wit or learning 
since the day he fell in the battle so easily.” And the 
commodore laughed heartily at the recollection. 

“ By the by,” resumed the commodore, “ Delnot, 
where is our friend Harold?” 

“ I don’t know, Commodore ; I would like to know 
also ; but he must be abroad somewhere.” 

“ What say you, gentlemen, you are both friends of 
his, if he don’t turn up soon, suppose you join me in a 
voyage of discovery and we’ll find him, won’t we?” 
said the commodore enthusiastically. 


120 


HAROLD GODWIN 


“ I wish he was here to-night,” said Warren. 

“ So do we all,” replied the commodore. 

“ Well, gentlemen, what do you say? It’s nearing 
time, why not let us walk to the festivities in good old- 
fashioned style, it’s not far — too far.” 

“ Certainly,” responded the friends. 

“ We don’t get exercise enough anyway,” continued 
the commodore. “We are getting too old and too blase 
to get either exercise or enjoyment out of dancing, and 
the little walk will do us good.” This was said as the 
gentlemen, after making their final preparations, were 
descending the marble steps of the brilliantly lighted 
club house. 

They had not gone very far when they were accosted 
by a shabbily dressed man for alms. Without hesita- 
tion each of the three gentlemen responded liberally 
and kindly and without question. As they had passed 
on the commodore said, “ A certain great senator from 
California once advocated a change of the size of the 
silver dollar on the ground that after night he couldn’t 
tell the difference between a silver dollar and a twenty- 
dollar gold piece.” 

“ I remember him very well,” said Warren, “ but I 
don’t think he applied that rule to giving alms, did he ? ” 

“ I should say not,” said the commodore, “ he was a 
prince in giving and in doing. The miners called him 
King George, they say.” 

“ I met him here several times, and on one occasion 
accepted his invitation to visit some great mines he 
owned in Dakota, and I must say he was a royal enter- 
tainer even on the frontier. We had at that supper the 
greatest variety of game meats I ever saw served at the 
same time, among others, buffalo, Rocky Mountain 
sheep, grizzly bear, elk, and others now forgotten by me, 
and our oysters came from Baltimore and were packed 
in ice and came by stage for three hundred miles 
through a hostile Indian country to Deadwood,” said 
Delnot. 


HAROLD GODWIN 


121 


“ Ah, that must have been unique. That’s a feast I 
would have enjoyed. One gets tired of the common- 
place spreads of to-day. The same substance got up 
only in different shapes by the art of the cuisine and 
labeled with high sounding French names,” said the ^ 
commodore. 

By this time the three pedestrians were drawing near 
the palace of dazzling light toward which they were 
wending their way. Suddenly a little flower girl 
emerged upon the scene bearing in a slight basket of 
wicker her tiny wares of single flowers and button-hole 
bouquets. “Will you have flowers, gentlemen?” she 
said. 

“ Of course we will,” said the commodore, and turn- 
ing to the other two friends before they could them- 
selves act, he continued, “ gentlemen select your bou- 
quets ; allow me.” 

Each took a single plain flower, which the girl deftly 
adjusted on their lappels. The commodore handed her 
a twenty-dollar gold piece and passed on with his 
friends. She followed them a moment with her eyes 
and remarked alond, “ Those are the grand rich.” 

During the times just mentioned there were in a pri- 
vate room at the same club, three other gentlemen en- 
gaged in more or less animated conversation. One, the 
oldest man, was large and fat with a nose that was both 
long and broad. It might be properly called a proboscis. 
He was clean shaven and might pass for a priest, a but- 
ler or a senator, as you like it. His name was Gugen- 
hein. 

The next in age was a very tall, lank, lean man, with 
mutton-chop whiskers and a sanctimonious face. He, 
too, might pass for a parson, a butler or a gambler. He 
was called the Deacon. 

The third, the youngest man, was what might be 
called pretty, with a light, black moustache and pink 
cheeks. His name was Prettiman. 

In other respects these men were alike. They were 


122 


HAROLD GODWIN 


all multi-millionaires ; their hands and feet and figures 
were roughly hewn and without symmetry, their noses 
were hooked and their eyes gleamed small and bright 
like those of birds of prey. 

These eyes flashed brighter than ever with eager 
anxiety as the door opened and a young man, evidently 
a confidential messenger whom they were expecting, 
entered hastily and without summons. 

“ What’s the news ? ” they asked all in one breath. 

“ The President says you can rely on him,” said the 
confidential clerk. 

“ Then we can buy sugar stock with safety,” said 
Gugenhein, still looking at the messenger. 

“ Of course you can. That’s what I came to tell 
you,” replied the messenger. 

“ But what if Congress kicks ? ” said Gugenhein. 

“ Congress can’t help itself. The president has the 
patronage and the veto, and he cares no more about 
Congress than the average congressman cares about 
the dear people,” said Mr. Prettiman. 

“ That’s right,” said the confidential clerk. “ He said 
to me, ‘ I am determined in this sugar business. The 
public interest demands it. You may tell them that I 
said so.’ ” 

“If the public interest demands it we are safe to 
act,” said Gugenhein with a guffaw. 

“ It’s right and proper that the public interests should 
be conserved,” blandly smiled the Deacon. 

“ Shall I make the order for the syndicate at once ? ” 
asked Mr. Prettiman. 

“ Of course,” responded his two associates. “If he 
alluded to the public interest that settles it ; it’s always 
a sure sign of a strong private conviction with him,” 
said Gugenhein. 

Mr. Prettiman withdrew for a few minutes. 

“ Well, I must go,” said the confidential clerk, mov- 
ing toward the door. 


HAROLD GODWIN 


123 

“ Stay a moment. Will you remain in the city to- 
night?” asked Gugenhein. 

“ I will unless something of importance for your in- 
terest requires my earlier return to Washington.” 

Gugenhein and the Deacon exchanged glances, and 
the latter smoothly said, as he slipped a crisp $500 bill 
into the hand of the confidential clerk, “ Dear brother, 
amuse yourself in the city as best you can and accept 
this little antecedent to pay your expenses, as it were, 
for to-night,” smiling. The confidential clerk departed 
smiling, and soon after the departure of the confidential 
clerk, Mr. Prettiman returned. 

“ Did you order the whole amount of stock ? ” asked 
Gugenhein. 

“ I did,” replied Mr. Prettiman. 

“ Let us trust in the president and in the Lord,” said 
the Deacon solemnly. 

“ Charge us up with our share of the expenses on that 
item to the clerk, and this little trick will make the 
syndicate at least ten millions in as many days, and 
let us now go to the ball,” said Gugenhein. 

The three men arose, and leaving the private room 
where they had held their important conference, they 
passed through the brilliantly lighted corridors and par- 
lors, and down the marble steps to the street below. As 
they were about to take their carriage, an old man, a 
beggar in tattered clothes, approached them and begged 
for aid. 

“ I have no change,” said Gugenhein. 

“ You should be at honest work instead of begging. 
You might buy rum, and I cannot countenance immor- 
ality,” said the Deacon. 

“ I can find no work, and I am starving,” replied the 
man, whose skeleton form and glaring eyes confirmed 
his words. 

“ You are a vagrant and ought to be in jail. I shall 
call the police,” said Mr. Prettiman. 


124 


HAROLD GODWIN 


At this last, the poor creature fled away with fear of 
arrest, and the three entered their carriage. 

“ What a nuisance these beggars are getting to be, ,, 
said Gugenhein. 

“ One cannot move without being accosted by them, 
and just think of it, right there in front of the club, in 
the full glare of the electric lights. I wonder at the 
fellow’s audacity. We must not encourage such peo- 
ple,” said Mr. Prettiman. 

“ The only proper way to be charitable is through the 
church,” said the Deacon, “ and then the committee sees 
that only respectable persons and not vags or strikers 
get any of our money. Besides a man who gives 
through the church gets some credit for it, and strength- 
ens his social standing as it were.” 

“ They say that that young Harold Godwin was hor- 
ribly charitable,” said Mr. Prettiman. 

“ You own that grand Hillstone property now don’t 
you ? ” asked Gugenhein. 

“ Yes, I bought it at the foreclosure sale,” replied Mr. 
Prettiman. 

“ Why, I thought Mr. Delnot, our congressman, 
bought it,” said the Deacon. “ I was at the sale and 
heard it knocked down to his agent.” 

“ So it was, but it is an easy thing to buy an agent,” 
said Mr. Prettiman, “ so I got it cheaper than to bid 
against him.” And they all laughed at the neat 
trick. 

“ I expect Godwin’s generosity broke him,” said the 
large man. 

“ I tell you,” said Mr. Prettiman, “ if I saw a clerk 
of mine give anything away for nothing, even to a 
beggar or anyone else, I would discharge him. I con- 
sider it a bad sign.” 

By this time their carriage had arrived as near as it 
could to the wedding mansion, which was yet some dis- 
tance, by reason of the numerous carriages that 
crowded the brilliant thoroughfare. As the three gen- 


HAROLD GODWIN 


125 

tlemen alighted the same flower girl whom we already 
have seen, offered the gentlemen flowers. 

“How much are they?” asked Gugenhein, closely 
scenting her flowers to see if they were natural and 
fresh. 

“ One little bouquet for fifteen cents, two bouquets 
for a quarter,” replied the girl. 

“ I’ll take two,” said Gugenhein, carefully selecting 
as far as he could the brightest and freshest of the lot. 
Then carefully counting out the change, five nickels 
(a street car conductor used to visit his mother), he 
handed them to the flower girl. 

The other two purchasers were less extravagant; 
they only took a bunch apiece, for which they carefully 
paid the exact change each. 

“ Are you sure that these flowers are fresh and that 
they cannot be had cheaper from the girl on the next 
corner ? ” asked Mr. Prettiman, searching the conscience 
of the girl with his piercing eyes. 

“ I am sure,” said the girl. 

“If you have deceived us, beware ! We will have you 
arrested as a common cheat,” said Mr. Prettiman, look- 
ing as if he would devour her. 

“ You need not insult me,” said the flower girl, and 
she dashed their nickels to the ground. The two passed 
on. 

“ A dark form glided from an unnoticed nook and 
greedily seized the scattered money. It was the same 
old man that begged of them before the club house. He 
brought the money to the flower girl, and held it out 
to her in his trembling hand. 

“ Keep it,” she said. 

“ Thanks,” said the old man, “ the insult shall not be 
forgotten,” and he rapidly disappeared. 

As she saw the three gentlemen solemnly ascending 
the brilliant steps of the great mansion beyond, she 
said, “ Those are the new rich, that, poor themselves 
yesterday, despise the poor of to-day.” 


126 


HAROLD GODWIN 


And the girl, still stinging under the insult that was 
conveyed by the rude manner more than even the import 
of the words themselves, fell to weeping over her lot that 
a moment before had seemed so fortunate. And as she 
wept she thought of a widowed mother whose husband 
bravely died at his place of duty on his engine in the 
great Harlem railroad wreck, and of a crippled brother 
who was run over by a vehicle on Broadway in the mad 
race of Commerce against Time and Opportunity. If 
her father had died on a national battlefield, his age 
and wounds would have received a grateful country’s 
beneficence. Why, then, should those that fall in the 
great battle of life, be abandoned to their fate together 
with their families by a thoughtless humanity? 


CHAPTER XVIII 


CORKS SWIM 

“ Ah, there she is,” said Delnot, as with Warren he 
entered the splendid reception room where the bride 
was at the time still receiving the incoming guests, and 
the congratulations usual on such occasions, however 
doubtful they may be. 

“ Warren,” said Delnot, “ just behold the grace that 
follows every movement of her head and arms like the 
distillation of aroma from some sweet flower swaying 
gently in the morning gale.” 

“ Don’t get poetical at this time and place,” laughed 
Warren. 

“ But who can help it ? Beauty and grace will as 
naturally inspire sentiment as sentiment inspires 
poetry.” 

“ With some natures,” interposed Warren. 

Just then Mr. Ward Mcllroy cordially greeted the 
two arrivals. “ Gentlemen, have you been presented to 
the bride ? ” said Mr. Mcllroy. 

“ Not yet ; that is, not this evening, yet,” replied War- 
ren. 

“ Come then, allow me the pleasure,” and they bent 
their steps toward Aphrodite and her attendants. 

“ Mrs. Vanderwenter,” said Mr. Mcllroy, with the 
mannerism of a courtier of the time of Louis XIV, 
“ will you permit me to present my esteemed friends, 
Mr. Delnot and Mr. Warren,” as each in turn bowed. 

Aphrodite’s grand, gracious smile fell upon these 
two old friends with the most disingenuous expression 
of unalloyed welcome, as she said, “ These, Mr. Mc- 
127 


128 


HAROLD GODWIN 


Ilroy, are also my esteemed friends ; if we were in the 
Palace of the Medicis, with these present I would feel 
safe.” 

“Thanks,” replied Delnot, “we trust we deserve 
your graciousness, but I must add, if a Beatrice had 
possessed your charms she would have discarded the 
cup and poniard.” Mr. Mcllroy here left them to be 
present at some other phase of the social function. 

“ He is quite poetical this evening, with a tinge of 
melancholy,” said Warren to Aphrodite. 

“ Come, cheer up, Perry,” she said familiarly, “ I am 
the one to be melancholy and Harold not here. What 
a queer thing this life is. I am in a maelstrom that 
bears me along.” 

“ Then,” said Delnot, “ you must bear yourself so as 
to master your fortunes, and be a queen of destiny, as 
you are.” 

“ I shall,” responded Aphrodite firmly. Others came 
and the gentlemen moved on. 

About this time the three gentlemen, Mr. Prettiman 
and his two friends, had arrived. As they entered they 
and each of them seemed to blow himself up by some 
system of air compression like a frog, and got stiffer in 
every joint. They walked large, with a swagger and 
got into everybody’s way, and their own way, too, for 
they every now and then nervously tripped over each 
others’ toes and heels. They stepped on ladies’ dresses 
and instead of apologizing pretended as if they had not. 

“ Put on your gall now,” said the Deacon to the other 
two, who instantly got stiffer and more puffed up. 

Mr. Ward Mcllroy saw them and smiled sweetly on 
these corner-stones out of which he was endeavoring 
to build the fabric of great society. Mr. Mcllroy’s 
glance appreciated their situation and his smile was in- 
tended to restore their self possession. 

“ Am glad to meet you, gentlemen,” he said warmly, 
as the three with great delight crowded around and 
indeed almost under the society leader, as the wander- 


HAROLD GODWIN 


129 

ing chicken is gathered beneath the hen. They seized 
his hand and dwelt on it with unction. 

Mr. Prettiman, who was the social leader of the three, 
said : “ And we are glad to see you Mr. Mcllroy. We 
have just made a little deal and if you’d like a corner 
of it, why I guess there is no objections,” and he looked 
at his confreres. 

The large man and the Deacon, reflecting that the 
corner could be pared down in private, and thinking 
that a tip at this time to the leader of society was op- 
portune, quickly responded, “ If Mr. Ward Mcllroy 
will accept a corner, we concluded you know in our 
talk to let him in ; I guess it’s all right.” 

“ Thank you, gentlemen, for your kind intentions. 
I leave that with you, but to-night devolves upon me 
the weight of social functions, and it pleases me to see 
the interest you take in them. Have you met the 
bride?” 

“ I have tried often enough to meet her, but never 
could succeed in getting an introduction,” said Mr. 
Prettiman. “ Delnot, our congressman, promised to 
introduce me but has always got out of it some way or 
other.” 

They had about reached the neighborhood of Aphro- 
dite, and Mr. Ward Mcllroy gracefully introduced the 
two. It was his intention, immediately after the intro- 
duction, to move them on to some place of innocuous 
desuetude where they could remain safe and unnoticed ; 
but man proposes and God disposes ; a messenger called 
him to another point of the social melee and the general 
was obliged to leave them where they were. 

Given confidence by the kindly manner in which 
Aphrodite greeted every guest, though a stranger, they 
composedly took advantage of the situation and aban- 
doned themselves to their impulses. 

“ I don’t go out much among ladies,” said Gugen- 
hein, “ I am a banker, you know, and my whole time 
is occupied with the affairs of the bank. Your hus- 


HAROLD GODWIN 


130 

band keeps a million on deposit all the time and I 
want to solicit your patronage — safest institution in the 
city, stood the panic of 1893 and never whimpered— in 
fact, had the United States treasury behind us — ” with 
a cunning smile. 

While the large man solicited patronage for his bank 
the Deacon pulled his long, lank fingers till the joints 
popped one after another, and Mr. Prettiman, who was 
now growing bold at his success in society, stood first 
on one foot and then the other and was anxious to get 
in a word to the beautiful woman before him. 

“ Now ring off, old man," he said snickering. “ He’s 
a bull of the worst kind, never knows when to let up. 
He’ll go all to smash some day, his bank and all. I’m 
a stockholder, in fact the biggest stockholder in your 
husband’s railroads, and if it wasn’t for me and my 
votes at the last stockholders’ meeting we could not 
have got our people in at all. Willy will tell you about 
it. Willy is not as slick as his father, but he’s got the 
money and the stocks, and ought to be able to hold con- 
trol easy enough.” 

During all this speechmaking and self publication 
other guests had arrived and many were in waiting to 
make their devoirs to the bride, but these three men, 
each with a spread and swagger of three more, made an 
impassable circle of at least nine men. Mr. Mcllroy was 
not there to clear this serious congestion, and these 
three persons, forgetful of all others, monopolized the 
situation as completely as they did the markets. 

Gugenhein, who was hurt at Prettiman’s remark 
about his bank, the minute Prettiman subsided, hastily 
chimed in, “ He says, madame, that I’m a bull and that 
my bank will smash up, but don’t you believe him, and 
if I were your husband I would not place too much con- 
fidence in him, or he’ll get left when he least expects it. 
These stockholders’ votes are sometimes mighty un- 
certain, I guess so. And as for my bank, it is a United 
States Depository and I invite inspection from large 


HAROLD GODWIN 


131 

depositors. I hope you will open an account with 
us.” 

Fortunately, by this time Mr. Mcllroy had arrived, 
and as quickly took in the situation. With the utmost 
serenity he bowed up to the three engrossers, smiled 
and bowed them into motion, and finally smiled and 
bowed them into a safe corner where their discussion of 
themselves and their corners would be less likely to an- 
noy other persons. There he left them temporarily to 
their own company. 

“ How did we get here ? ” asked Gugenhein. 

“ Thought we were talking to Mrs. Vanderwenter,” 
said Prettiman. 

“ The Lord only knows how it happens,” surmised 
the Deacon. 

From the comer to which they had been so delicately 
piloted a fine view was had of the ball room adjoining 
the grand reception room. 

“ My, look at the diamonds ; there’s a quarter of a 
million worth of diamonds on that lady’s hair and 
dress,” said Gugenhein. 

“ That’s Miss Vanderwenter,” said Prettiman. “ I 
met her once when I called on Willy about those rail- 
road stocks.” 

“ And who’s that hungry looking little fellow walk- 
ing with her?” asked Gugenhein. 

“ Who do you mean ? ” asked Prettiman. 

“ I mean the little party with Miss Vanderwenter; 
the little man with one eye-glass, that walks like a 
crawfish.” 

“ Why, you ought to know. He negotiated a loan at 
your bank yesterday,” said Prettiman. 

“ By thunder ! It’s the Duke of Convort. I didn’t 
know him. He’s changed his clothes,” said Gugen- 
hein. 

“ Ain’t you any better judge of human nature than 
to trust that man’s face for five thousand dollars ? ” 
asked Prettiman, snickering at Gugenhein. 


132 


HAROLD GODWIN 


“ His face is wofully lacking in godly qualities,” said 
the Deacon. 

“ My judgment is with yours,” responded Gugenhein, 
“ but if he don’t pay the money back I’ll get it out of 
him.” 

“ I don’t know how,” said the Deacon, “ for our re- 
port on him when he first came was that he had no 
worldly goods whatsoever; in fact, he is bankrupt,” 
said the Deacon. 

“ I can get it back, nevertheless, at one hundred per 
cent, per month.” 

Prettiman regarded Gugenhein curiously as he 
asked, “ How?” 

“ Why, you chumps, I’m going to England the next 
season and I want to meet the queen myself ; and these 
dukes you know stand in, and in that way I’ll be in the 
swim, and take in the whole business, and the money 
will come back in one way or another with plenty of in- 
terest, besides taking tea with the queen.” 

“ Good scheme ; get to see the circus and get a re- 
bate besides,” said Prettiman and he continued: 

“ That beats my old classmate, Billy Holdoff’s scheme 
all to pieces. He is edging around with hundred-thou- 
sand-dollar presents and making slow progress. His 
is a coarse graft and everybody is on ; the royal circle 
is ashamed to let him in. But you’ve got it right, loan 
a man money which he can’t repay and you’ve got him ; 
loan kings and princes money especially and you’ve got 
’em ; the higher they are and the more honor they have, 
the more you’ve got ’em ; they’ll naturally do whatever 
you tell them to ; let you into society, into the bosoms of 
their family, turn over to you their friends that you 
may fleece them, in fact, turn over to you whole creeds 
and governments for the same purpose.” Prettiman 
uttered this last comment slowly and more slowly as 
the great truths broadened in his mind. 

“ Now you are beginning to see the point of catching 


HAROLD GODWIN 1133 

the duke like a fish on a hook, do you see?” asked 
Gugenhein. 

“ I do ; your head is level, old man,” said Prettiman. 

“ Don’t take so much unction to yourselves,” said the 
Deacon. 

“ Isn’t it true, as a financial principle? ” asked Gugen- 
hein. 

“ Yes, guess so,” replied the Deacon, “ but you 
haven’t discovered it. It is merely a la Rothschilds. 
By that hook of loaned money they hold not only the 
crowned heads, princes and aristocracy of Europe, but 
the banking and monetary interests of the commercial 
world, and thereby determine questions of peace and 
war and the destiny of nations.” 

“ I guess the Deacon’s right,” said Gugenhein. 

“ Well, any way we’ve got the small fry of the United 
States about in our grip for a while, and we’re getting 
’em tighter every day,” snickered Prettiman. 

Just then the Duke of Convort, who had become dis- 
engaged and alone, happened in the neighborhood. Mr. 
Gugenhein swooped upon him. “ Ah, dear me, 
Mr. Duke, glad to see you, Mr. Duke. My friends, 
Mr. Prettiman and Mr. Lace, commonly called the 
Deacon, both men of large affairs, sir.” 

All were glad, very glad, to see the duke. “ We’re 
glad to see the noble classes coming over to this coun- 
try, because it is good for us; oh, how sweet royalty 
must be,” prayerfully said the Deacon. 

And they all huddled up around the duke, as they 
had closed upon Mr. Ward Mcllroy when they first met 
him, and elbowed him and rubbed against him until they 
felt quite familiar with him. Though the duke was 
small and sometimes almost invisible, he seemed to like 
the familiarity. “ I’m so glad to meet you, ah, gentle- 
men, I’ve heard of you all before, ah, as great American 
financiers. Ah, I’m so pleased to see you, and you must 
come sometime, ah, and dine with me at my rooms, ah, 


m 


HAROLD GODWIN 


at the Waldorf, ah, won’t you ? ” smiling sweetly and 
out of breath from the rubbing. 

“ Of course we will, Mr. Duke, and put you in a 
corner, if you say so,” said Prettiman, snickering pro- 
fusely over himself and the duke. 

“ Oh how charming,” said the duke. “ But why 
put me in a corner when, ah. I’m in a corner already, 
ah?” 

“ How so, Mr. Duke ? ” asked the Deacon. 

“ Because,” said the duke, “ the little five thousand, 
ah, I drew at your bank yesterday, I dropped, ah, at a 
little game, ah, called, ah, faro, ah.” 

“ That’s nothing, Mr. Duke, come around in the 
morning and get five thousand more, or ten thousand 
if you like it ? ” said Gugenhein. 

“ Oh, how charming ah, I thought so. I knew, ah, 
that you large American bankers would be generous 
with me, ah. You dear, ah, noble, ah, American bank- 
ers,” and he smiled like royalty upon them. 

“ Oh, don’t say noble, Mr. Duke,” said the Deacon, 
now quite warmed by the duke’s enthusiasm, “ you 
only are noble.” And the three of them all huddled 
up to the little, eye-sore, asthmatic duke and rubbed 
around and upon him and mixed with him as be- 
fore. Out of this mill Mr. Ward Mcllroy opportunely 
extricated the duke with main force. The duke came 
out smiling and gasping. 

“ Are you alive, My Lord ? ” asked Ward Mcllroy. 

“ Yes, ah, yes,” said the duke, at intervals of breath- 
ing. 

“ Thunder ! did you hear that? Isn’t that lovely? Isn’t 
that smooth ? Why didn’t we dill him ‘ My Lord ? ’ ” 
said Gugenhein, catching on to Ward’s address, 
with a regret participated in by his associates. 
Each was anxious to roll the word over and over — 
“ Milord.” ^ 

“Ah, Milord, Milord, did you say you were sick,” 


HAROLD GODWIN 


'135 

said Gugenhein, rolling over in his mouth the word 
‘ Milord ’ as if it was a sweet morsel. 

“ No, ah/’ said the duke. 

“ No, Milord, Milord you said you were well, Mi- 
lord, ” said Prettiman, dwelling each time on the word 
‘ Milord.’ ” 

“ Yes, ah — a little done up.” 

“ Yes, Milord, Milord, you say, Milord, you Milord, 
are neither sick nor well, my noble Duke, Milord,” said 
the Deacon, feeling that he had proudly outclassed his 
associates in polite usage. 

“ You gentlemen will kindly excuse Milord for a 
few minutes and I will bring him back to you after a 
while,” said Mr. Mcllroy, smiling on his corner- 
stones. 

“ Certainly, Mr. Ward Mcllroy,” said the others. 

“ Yes, Milord,” said the Deacon to Mr. Ward Mc- 
llroy, involuntarily, and from acquired habit, and be- 
cause he liked the sound. 

And Mr. Ward Mcllroy and Milord passed to an- 
other part of the great ball room. 

“ Isn’t nobility fine? ” said Gugenhein. 

“Yes, and I guess easily worked; they are so nice, 
so lovely, they get their money easy and it goes easy,” 
snickered Prettiman. 

“ Seven come eleven every time,” said the Deacon, 
as he popped his knuckles loudly with glee. 

“ If we only had nobility in this country; if the pres- 
ident, like the queen, could only issue patents of no- 
bility?” said Gugenhein. 

“ We’d be dukes ourselves,” snickered Prettiman. 

“ Even like Absalom,” said the Deacon, solemnly. 

In another part of the ball room the duke had re- 
turned to the side of Violanita Vanderwenter. If her 
eyes had not been blinded by the glare of nobility she 
would have seen that the great duke of great title was 
a very ordinary person ; in fact, an inferior person. His 


HAROLD GODWIN 


136 

face was weak, his complexion unhealthy and his small 
frame decidedly the worse for wear. One of his legs 
had been so badly shattered by the falling of a horse 
in some ill-ridden chase, that he had, when he ambled 
about, a gait suggestive of the movements of a craw- 
fish. His best eye was the one generally covered with 
a little glass which concealed its want of firmness and 
purpose. His title was all that remained of a patrimony 
that had been sedulously squandered by quite a line of 
weak-minded ancestors. 

Violanita Vanderwenter was not a beauty, but she 
was Willy’s sister and immensely rich. Her cousin, the 
Duchess of Dundy, had brought the Duke of Dundy a 
dot of twenty millions, and nearly as much was to be 
had by the desirable title who should acquire this eligi- 
ble American heiress. 

As the titled but impoverished duke gazed on the 
American heiress, his mouth watered even as the Ameri- 
can parvenus a moment before had done, in and about 
himself and rolled his title upon their tongues. 

Nobility now prostrated itself before wealth — the 
duke before the ducats. He did not see beneath the 
powder that the skin of his charmer was mucky, and 
colored with the soil that slipped in from the horny 
hands of a recent generation, that her feet were flat 
and angular, and her figure figureless. She held her- 
self up nicely and pertly for a few minutes at a time, 
as taught at a boarding school particularly for the in- 
struction of manners, that could not be acquired at 
home. There was no harm in the girl, she scarcely had 
intelligence enough to have a will, and what little she 
had was readily subrogated to the wishes of her 
mother. 

“ Ah Miss Violanita, ah, if I may call you so, such 
a lovely name,” said the duke. 

“ Do you think so Milord? ” said Violanita. 

“ Ah very. So ah aristocratic,” replied the duke. 


HAROLD GODWIN 


*3 7 


Violanita straightened up as she said, “ indeed Mi- 
lord,” smiling. 

“ What a proud air ah you have at times ah,” said the 
duke, as he saw his commonplace flattery was proving 
available. 

“ Ah Milord, you flatter me,” smiling sillily. 

“ Ah, but ah I don’t flatter, I mean it, ah,” said the 
duke, becoming quite serious in his manner. 

“ Isn’t that a pretty flower that Mr. Delnot has in 
his button hole? ” asked Violanita, as Delnot passed by 
with a lady on his arm. 

“ Oh, ah,” said the duke, “ perfectly lovely ah, as they 
say in Boston ah. But,” he continued, “ Mr. Delnot’s 
flower ah, is not nearly so beautiful as, as those in 
England ah.” 

“ England is a nice place, we liked it very much, 
mama and I,” said the girl. 

“ Oh ah, I’m so glad you liked it ah,” and thinking 
he saw a new loophole for approach, he added with a 
voice of tenderness, “ ah, how would you like ah, to live 
ah, in ah, England ah, always ah ? ” 

“ Oh my, to live in one place always, summer and 
winter, I ” — 

“ Oh ah, no ah, I don’t mean that ah, I mean how 
would ah, you ah, like to live there always ? ” 

“ I wouldn’t like to live there always,” said the girl. 

“ Oh ah, you don’t ah, understand ah.” 

The duke got no further. At their feet came a crash 
from which arose the snickering face and awkward 
frame of Mr. Prettiman. That gentleman had slipped 
on the polished floor and tumbled into a ridiculous 
heap. 

“ Oh ah, are you hurt ah ? ” asked the duke. 

“ No Milord, just took a fly Milord.” 

Mr. Mcllroy, ever on the alert hastened to the side of 
the crushed tragedian. “ My dear Mr. Prettiman, are 
there any bones broken ? ” 


HAROLD GODWIN 


I3S 

“ No Milord, Mr. Mcllroy, just a fall of stocks. Take 
me to our corner.” Where, when he and Mr. Mcllroy 
arrived, there seemed to be in the eyes of his associates 
who less venturesome, had remained safely where they 
were, a cunning twinkle of satisfied revenge. 

The duke returned to Violanita. “ What a queer 
creature,” she said, “ and he fell so ungracefully.” 

“ Ungracefully yes ah. You have ah, queer gentle- 
men ah, in America ah.” The duke’s emphasis on the 
word gentlemen was unnoticed. 

“ Yes, Milord. He is one of my brother’s largest 
stockholders.” 

“ Oh ah, yes, nice gentleman ah, very rich ah ? ” said 
the duke inquiringly. 

“ Yes, Milord, very rich, a self made man.” 

“ Oh Oh, ah ah, ah me. Yes ah, very rich, ah, self 
made man ah, gentleman ah. Ah ah.” The tone of 
voice between a shiver and a compulsion in which the 
duke made this remark, defied analysis. 

“ Does he ah, Mr. Prettiman ah, ever go abroad ah ? ” 
asked the duke. 

“ I don’t know,” replied Violanita. 

“ Ah, hope not.” 

After a few minutes’ silence the duke resumed, “ ah 
when ah, do you visit ah, England ah ? ” 

“ I think mama says we will go the coming season.” 

“ Ah delightful.” 

“ We will visit our cousin, the Duchess of Dundy, 
ma says,” said Violanita. 

“ Charming lady ah, the duchess ah. Right up ah, 
you know ah, admitted by the queen ah.” 

“ Oh how charming ! ” said Violanita. 

“Oh ah, how would you ah like that you know?” 
said the duke, getting excited. 

“ Oh I’d like to be of that set,” said Violanita, think- 
ing of the queen. 

“ Oh you know ah, I mean ah, to be a duchess ah. 
I mean ah, I’m a duke ah, to be my duchess ah, you 


HAROLD GODWIN 


a 39 

know, to be my wife ? ” with great excitement in his 
effort to make his meaning plain. 

Just then Mr. Mcllroy came up to them. “ Come my 
Lord, you should be in the grand dining hall with your 
fair partner. You will find there a supper fit for the 
gods. Come. ,, And he escorted the pair to the grand 
hall below. 


CHAPTER XIX 


AT DUNDY CASTLE 

Life is too short to recount all the details of Aphro- 
dite’s magnificent procession from the halls of the Van- 
derwenters to the shores of Albion and the Continent. 
The Press of this country uttered au revoirs, and that of 
Europe echoed welcome, in peans of praise to the 
matchless American beauty. Her passage from be- 
neath the statue of Liberty enlightening the world to 
the parlors and salons of nobility and royalty, was short 
and sweet. From before the time of her prototype, 
the power of beauty, had been as irresistible in the 
palaces of kings as in the fields and gardens of nature. 
Beauty like genius, burns its own peculiar way, and has 
no rules to govern its influence; ordinary gifts must 
conform to precedent. 

On this occasion there had been a charming lawn 
party in the afternoon at Dundy palace where the Van- 
derwenters had been right royally received, and were 
now admired guests. The duchess was delighted with 
her new cousin, and marked with much satisfaction, 
the effect Aphrodite had produced upon the many dis- 
tinguished persons, from time to time invited to the 
palace, to meet her. A difference of a few thousand 
miles in longitude, made no difference in the homage 
that men were ready to yield her amiable graces. And 
yet neither marriage nor the interjacent ocean could 
sweep out the existence of certain facts in Aphrodite’s 
life. 

On this occasion as above said there was in progress 
a lawn party. Most of the participants had gradually 
withdrawn to various cool and shady places among the 
140 


HAROLD GODWIN 141 

magnificent oaks. In one of these shady and retired 
places two gentlemen were smoking and talking. 

One of them was a little past the middle age and in- 
clined to rotundity of figure, yet graceful and of a 
pleasant expression, he was often addressed by the other 
as “ Your Highness.” The other gentleman was both 
small and thin. 

“ So Your Highness thinks she’s a greater beauty 
than Mrs. Langtry ? ” said the smaller man, who was 
no other than the Duke of Penrose. 

“ Unquestionably,” replied his companion. “ Her 
lines are finer. The curves of the shoulders, back and 
hips are more serpentine and lithe, showing both power 
and femininity. Her hands and feet are better modeled 
and the grace of her movements is incomparable.” 

“You have said nothing about her facial qualities? ” 

“ That’s of course secondary at our age, but the ar- 
tists have determined that question in the preference 
they have already extended as I am informed, and I 
think their judgment is right,” replied his Highness. 

“ And last and also least how do they compare intel- 
lectually ? ” 

“ My dear fellow, there the comparison widens yet 
more broadly, but we must not make it odious you 
know.” 

“ Well,” resumed the Duke of Penrose, puffing a 
huge volume of smoke from his lips as he quizzically 
smiled, “ so Your Highness admires her figure, her face 
and her intellect.” 

“Yes I do, and I am bound to admit that she has 
produced an impression on me a little, perhaps too 
warm for my present contentment.” 

His confession was expected by the duke who still 
more quizzically looked at the prince as he said tantal- 
izingly and with a sinister air of knowing something 
more, “ and should you take her to be a paragon of 
virtue ? ” 

“ Why, what do you mean ? ” retorted the other. 


142 


HAROLD GODWIN 


“ Do you think she would prove unassailable to the 
advances and wishes of your accomplished Highness ? ” 
the first gentleman then said. 

“ Thanks My Lord, for your doubtful compliments, 
but I have no means of forming an opinion. But from 
your peculiar expression just now, I imagined you 
knew something which might enable me to form an 
opinion/’ 

“ You know that she is an American woman, and en- 
tirely unaccustomed to our social methods and there- 
fore verdant as we term it, and not liable to keep the 
balance of virtue in the excitement of new surround- 
ings,” said the duke. 

“ But a woman of strong sense would be unaffected 
by those considerations, and such I take her to be.” 

“ Don’t you think the flattery of court circles and 
royal distinction are calculated to have effect in the di- 
rection of your fancy ? ” asked his lordship, still main- 
taining a partially serious and partially comical ex- 
pression. 

“ Not with her; there must be something more,” said 
his highness seriously. 

“ Well I know more.” 

“ Enough you think ? ” asked his highness with a 
look of increased curiosity, “ enough you think to over- 
come the balance of virtue ? ” 

“ I should think so,” replied the other, now laughing 
quite loudly at the interest manifested by his highness. 

“ What would you say,” said the duke, “ if I should 
tell you that the famous American beauty, Mrs. Willy 
Vanderwenter, the representative of American society, 
the favorite of the Press of both sides of the ocean, the 
present honored guest of the English nobility, is a high- 
kicker and a cyprian ? ” 

“ My — . My Lord ! But if you are not joking, 
truth is stranger than fiction and quite as acceptable,” 
said his highness evidently pleased at the information. 
“ But how do you know this ? ” asked the prince. 


HAROLD GODWIN 


143 

“ On the occasion of my return from Tokio last sum- 
mer where I had been sent by her majesty’s govern- 
ment as you know, I stopped over in New York for a 
few weeks. I met there some very charming gentlemen 
to whom I had letters of introduction. They were 
Perry Delnot, who, though quite young, enjoys reputa- 
tion as an American statesman, and Mr. Harold God- 
win, a most elegant gentleman. Among other charm- 
ing attentions, they invited me to a kind of private 
banquet at Newport, a fashionable seaside resort there. 
At that banquet were present besides the gentlemen 
named and one or two others, the loveliest and most 
talented bouquet of young women or rather ladies, I 
ever encountered. Such singing, dancing and conver- 
sation, I never saw so copiously and elegantly mixed 
with festivity. It was a singular combination and an 
olla podrida of beauty, genius and gaiety. I admit I 
was overwhelmed myself and actually fascinated by the 
chief divinity of the graces there present.” 

“ Well, what has that to do with Mrs. Vanderwen- 
ter? ” asked his highness. 

“ She was the chief divinity, the beautiful Aphro- 
dite of that occasion.” 

“ What of that ? beauty and grace are not crimes,” 
said the prince. 

“ No, but the high kicking she did, almost a la can 
can,” said the duke. 

The prince looked intently into the green lawn at his 
feet as he contemplated in imagination the warm specta- 
cle of this beautiful and now celebrated woman kicking 
high in the air regardless of consequences. 

Both parties remained silent for some time, till at 
length the prince asked: 

“ Have you been recognized by her ? ” 

“ I can’t say,” returned the duke. “ I have delicately 
approached her several times in relation to that meet- 
ing, but she either does not recall it or pretends not to 
remember.” 


144 


HAROLD GODWIN 


“ After all you may be mistaken,” said the prince. 

“ I cannot be. I only met her on that occasion, but 
that occasion was memorable and I am not mistaken; 
this is the beautiful Aphrodite of that evening,” re- 
plied the duke. 

In another part of the same lawn in a similar shady 
grotto of oak and vines, Aphrodite was seated enjoying 
a few moments' quiet conversation with her cousin, the 
Duchess of Dundy. If Aphrodite had been absent one 
might have pronounced the duchess lovely enough 
with her dark brown eyes and rich olive complexion, 
notwithstanding the duchess’s seniority of several 
years. But the radiance of the rose diminished the 
dark beauty of the olive. 

“ The prince seems to be immensely taken with you,” 
said the duchess. “ I have noticed him watching you 
with an interest he apparently could not conceal.” 

“ I hope not. He is old enough to be sensible, and 
to know that a married woman should not be the re- 
cipient of marked attention of that degree even from a 
prince.” 

“ Oh my, what queer notions you have,” replied the 
duchess. “ Why any woman, married or single, con- 
siders herself honored by the attentions of the prince, 
and the more marked the attention the greater is con- 
sidered the honor.” 

“ I shouldn’t think any self-respecting woman, 
American or English, would hold such sentiments,” 
said Aphrodite. 

“ Why my child, I perceive your education has been 
sadly neglected. I thought Aunt Vanderwenter would 
have advised you better. And then think of the im- 
mense social advantages to be derived from the favor 
of the prince. In this country the prince is a social 
power. If it was not for his influence, my husband 
with all his lands and titles would not have obtained 
recognition for us at court. The rules of admission 


HAROLD GODWIN 


145 


there are very strict and intended to be founded on 
morality and personal character, as well as title. 

“ Suppose/’ said Aphrodite, “ the prince should ex- 
tend to you a personal attention that would ordinarily 
be deemed compromising, what would you do ? ” 

“ I would and so would my husband, consider it the 
honor and opportunity of my life/’ said the duchess 
with enthusiasm. 

Aphrodite closed her eyes with an unnoticed shudder, 
and after a pause said, “ Then where is your feeling 
of love and affection in this matter ? ” 

“ Your education has been sadly neglected, my dear 
cousin. Love and affection! that is the idle dream of 
the child and the peasant. In high life there is no room 
for such trifles, except as trifles. The serious con- 
sideration is social advancement founded upon an 
accurate calculation of advantages arising from this 
or that relationship or influence. Such relationships 
and all marriages are the result of calculation. If you 
want love and affection you must find it with poodles 
or a chevalier.” 

“ That is not the rule in America is it ? ” asked 
Aphrodite, interested to see how far the duchess would 
go in the expression of these sentiments. 

“ The difference between England and America in 
these social matters is only a difference of name and de- 
gree. In America the possession of large means imme- 
diately makes one eligible to become a member of the 
higher classes, and therefore money is the sole desidera- 
tum in all calculations there. But here is to be found 
an additional social development — a titled nobility ; and 
yet higher is to be found that portion of the titled no- 
bility admitted to association with royalty itself and 
permitted to breathe the divine atmosphere of the 
throne. To attain to this last what would not a sane 
person do ? ” 

“ I believe I would prefer the atmosphere of a deli- 
cious pine grove in spring time,” laughed Aphrodite. 


146 


HAROLD GODWIN 


“ You astonish me,” said the duchess. “ To think 
that my dear calculating aunt who as you are aware 
secured for the hand of Violanita the famous title of the 
Duke of Convort — to think I say, that she failed to give 
you an insight into these elementary principles of high 
life, is I must say most astonishing. Why with your 
extraordinary beauty and the tendency the prince has 
already evinced toward you, there is nothing you may 
not accomplish if properly managed. Come, we must 
not be so long from our guests.” And the ladies re- 
turned through the beautiful park. 

The ladies had not proceeded far on their return 
when they were met by his highness, who with a very 
low and winning bow said, “ Pardon me, but you 
ladies show excellent taste in seeking the quietude of 
the shady park at this time, rather than the more ani- 
mated scenes of the general gathering elsewhere. 
Will you permit me to enjoy your company? ” 

“ Certainly Your Highness, we were just partaking 
of the poetry and solitude of yon shady bower,” said the 
duchess, pointing to the grotto which they had just 
left. 

“ Let us return there, will you ? ” continued the 
prince. “ I am sure the sylvan retreats of Dundy 
park are not haunted except by spirits of pleasant en- 
chantment.” 

The duchess with approving remarks readily turned 
the steps of the party in the direction of the grotto they 
had just quitted, where she was the first to resume her 
seat and by example thereby induced Aphrodite to do 
likewise. 

“ This is indeed a charming place of retirement from 
the activity of tennis or the annoyance of uninteresting 
associations,” said the prince. 

“ In such a spot as this,” said the duchess, “ Shakes- 
peare might have composed his Midsummer Night’s 
Dream, and I shall leave you two here to see the elfs, 
the spirits or the gnomes of the poet’s fancy, while I, 


HAROLD GODWIN 


147 


pardon me Your Highness, will elsewhere look after the 
happiness of perhaps less favored guests.” And 
laughing lightly she arose, and in an instant was trip- 
ping out of sight along the green sward. 

“ Your cousin’s fancy about this place is quite poetic,” 
said his highness. 

“ Yes,” replied Aphrodite, “ My cousin’s gifts are 
both charming and varied.” 

“ She alluded to the Midsummer Night’s Dream. 
Ah if I could but have and enjoy a perfect midsummer 
day’s dream,” said the prince. “ A day dream that 
could bring an absolute forgetfulness of life as it is 
with its petty realities and annoyances, and steep the 
senses in perfect repose — pardon my speaking with so 
much familiarity, but I think we have been, since we 
first met, sufficiently in each other’s company to justify 
my trenching a little on your confidence.” 

Aphrodite catching the sudden solemn humor of the 
prince, and wishing to indulge it, said gravely, “ There 
is, Your Highness, in the Grecian Archipelago a small 
island, so surrounded by others that the waves of the 
angry sea beyond, never reach its peaceful shores. Re- 
mote from the highways of ordinary travel, the cares 
and anxieties of worldly life are never imported within 
its confines. Its few inhabitants gratefully cultivate 
the generous soil and worship in the temple of the 
Goddess of Repose. If Your Highness will go there 
you may find what you say you seek.” 

“ Will you go with me ? ” said the prince, looking 
directly in the eyes of Aphrodite. 

“ No,” she replied, not choosing to understand, “ our 
present trip does not include at this time, that particu- 
lar region of exploration.” 

“ Then why recommend to me a vicinity, that will not 
be enchanted by your own presence ; why exile me to the 
island of repose when the goddess of repose abjures 
her sovereignty ? ” 

“ The spirits that bring the greatest repose to human 


148 


HAROLD GODWIN 


experience are not human,” said Aphrodite with a mis- 
chievous smile. “ They are of a nature so ethereal as 
to afford what is sometimes called spiritual consola- 
' tion.” 

“ I perceive,” said the prince, “ you are making fun 
of my serious protestations of devotion.” 

“ Your Highness would not accuse me of so much 
levity.” Aphrodite said this in a lively, good natured 
manner, and her smiles were so radiant that the prince 
became more and more enraptured. 

“ But your levity is unendurable,” said the prince 
smiling but complaining. “ While I weep you smile. 
While my heart is breaking with an uncontrollable 
emotion of unexpressed tenderness ” — and the prince’s 
manner became serious — “ and I would like to dream 
even for a moment only of the possibility of its return — 
even for a moment only. You smile so radiantly and 
your heart beats so calmly, that like the vessel depart- 
ing in the moonlight, 

“ ‘ You seem to bear all peace within, 

Nor leave one breaking heart behind.’ 

But pardon me for quoting poetry. I forswore that 
habit since the establishment of the present poet lau- 
reate.” 

The gaiety and comic seriousness, the badinage of 
the prince’s utterances added to the fascination of a 
manner that was deferential and engaging, did not fail 
to enlist Aphrodite’s interest in his compliments. She 
consented to be entertained by the policy he had pur- 
sued so long as it did not become too serious and com- 
promising, for as the reader knows she was no prude ; 
and the prince on his part began to construe her relent- 
ing bonhomie as an omen in his favor, and desirous 
not to injure his chances by pressing his hopes too 
boldly, considered he had removed the first barriers to 
their realization, and became proportionately amenable 
to the dictates of reason^ and their further collversa- \ 


HAROLD GODWIN 


149 

tion followed well with'in the bounds of the proper and 
usual. 

On the same evening at a late hour and after the 
festivities had ceased, the Duke of Dundy called on 
his duchess in her private apartments. As he has not 
hitherto appeared except by reference, a very slight de- 
scription is necessary to identify him. He was the 
wreck of what was once a fine specimen of physical 
manhood. The finest art of the surgeon had been ex- 
ercised to patch up successfully the facial marks of 
reckless dissipation; and by those marks on the nose 
and underlip he was readily identified anywhere. His 
American wife had reinstated his fortune and for her 
judgment on questions of finance he had as we shall 
presently see, the highest respect. As she was fond of 
titles, he always addressed her as the duchess. 

As he entered her apartments and presence he said, 
“ Will the Duchess extricate me from a financial situa- 
tion that is pressing ? ” 

“ What is the situation, My Lord ? ” she replied 
pleasantly. 

“ Well you see, the prince wants to borrow twenty 
thousand pounds from me, and if he gets it, you know 
it will cut me down in the improvements I was making 
on the west wing of the old castle.” 

“ What does the prince want with it ? ” 

“ He wants half of it to replace what he lost at 
roulette last night, and I think the other half is to ac- 
company an order he has made on his jeweler for a 
solitaire diamond; from what he said I infer that to 
be his object.” 

“ A diamond,” said the duchess contemplatively. 
Then she continued, “ It must be for Aphrodite,” and 
she smiled. Turning toward the duke again she said, 
“ I think the situation can be met. You go to Mr. 
Gugenhein, the banker, who has been with us here for 
the last three days, and tell him that I say to go to the 
prince- and offer him the money. The prince will ac- 


150 


HAROLD GODWIN 


cept it for you know, he is not very particular in such 
cases. Besides I have an idea from certain confer- 
ences that I have noticed going on, that Gugenhein has 
acquired an interest already in the roulette game and 
has therefore won ten thousand of the prince’s money, 
and as for the other ten thousand, tell him that the 
prince and ourselves will subscribe to the railroad 
scheme he talked about the first night he arrived here.” 

“ Oh grand ! Grand ! my Duchess.” 

“ But,” continued the duchess, “ we must see that 
this enterprising financier shall share with us some of 
the enormous profits he shall make through our advice 
and introduction.” 

“ We certainly should get some of the benefits,” as- 
sented the duke, “ for the American banker is such a 
wonderful bore you know ; so awkward, always in the 
way, making horrid mistakes, you know.” 

“ But you will find him always with his eyes and 
ears open for opportunities for business. Explain the 
matter to him to-morrow as I have suggested, and our 
exchequer will not only be spared but augmented.” 

“ Good-night my lovely Duchess, you have relieved 
my anxiety. Good-night,” and the duke returned to 
his own apartments in another part of the palace. 

After the duke had withdrawn as also the maids in 
waiting, and the lights had been extinguished or low- 
ered to dimness, an uncertain youthful shadow that 
might have been real or might have been a baseless 
imagination, flitted across the heavenly apartments of 
the gifted duchess. 

The next day Mr. Gugenhein (who, for purposes of 
inspection, had crossed “ the pond ” in a cattle ship, 
in which enterprise he was a large stockholder,) was 
vastly pleased to invest in loans to the noble prince, and 
at the same time received an invitation to the queen’s 
reception and secured the prince’s subscription to the 
railroad scheme. By a shrewd combination he had not 
been on the premises twenty-four hours before he had 


HAROLD GODWIN 


151 


secured a principal interest in the banking games and 
devices that were fleecing the foolish nobles who in- 
sisted in squandering their fortunes, and he was fore- 
most at the games as a capper or stool pigeon to lead 
the others to their ruin and his own tremendous profit. 
“ Chumps, chumps,” he soliloquized, “ I don’t know 
which is the greater chump, the American consumer 
or the British noble.” 


CHAPTER XX 

THE QUEEN'S RECEPTION 

The queen's reception was grand and particularly 
grand on that particular day. All the world of the 
great of all nations were there and so were Aphrodite 
and Mr. Gugenhein. By these two as well as the 
Duchess of Dundy and the American legation, America 
was represented. 

Representatives of all the nations of the globe were 
there in brilliant colors. 

That charming old lady of exemplary distinction in 
every dutiful relation of life as a woman, and for that 
reason deserving and receiving the general respect of 
people all over the world, presided with much dignity. 
And the prince was there, the natural guardian of the 
home circle, charged with the duty of seeing that none 
but the pure approached the sacred person of majesty 
and much venerated old age. Notwithstanding his 
private information, the prince deviated from estab- 
lished forms to be personally near when Aphrodite was 
brought into the glorious presence of royalty. 

When Aphrodite had arrived the same pleasant 
flutter of surprise and admiration that usually accom- 
panied her appearance, rippled through the distin- 
guished audience. 

The gentle influence of fragrant beauty that had 
permeated the beholders on her first appearance in the 
great chamber, had reached also her majesty, who from 
time to time had turned her eyes on the fair vision of 
beauty as if to drink in some of the reflected youth and 
vitality of her being, and when Aphrodite came to be 
personally presented, so modest and charming was her 
152 


HAROLD GODWIN 


153 


demeanor, and so fresh and child like were the colors 
that radiated over her beautiful face, that the dear old 
lady could not and did not resist the temptation to un- 
bend from the formal and to impress upon her chame- 
leon cheek a warm and graceful kiss. 

So natural was the act, that its unusualness only 
became a matter of comment and approbation long 
after it was done. 

It can be imagined what was the Duchess of Dundy’s 
sense of social triumph at this extraordinary manifesta- 
tion of royal regard accorded her American cousin; 
and to what colossal heights her ambition began to 
soar, founded on this and the prince’s evident subju- 
gation to the thralldom of Aphrodite’s beauty, it is 
difficult to imagine. Constellations of titled persons 
from every land began to gather round the duchess 
and the new particular favorite, and sought to borrow 
as satellites the light directly bestowed upon Aphro- 
dite with such extraordinary distinction. 

A little later with bounding heart the duchess ap- 
proved the duke’s acceptance of an invitation to remain 
with his party at the royal palace. This gracious in- 
vitation was borne by the prince in person. 

It was under these brilliant circumstances and on 
the evening of the same eventful day, that in one of the 
many beautiful and retired alcoves of the palace draw- 
ing room that the prince, unable longer to restrain his 
emotions, pressed his suit upon Aphrodite. 

For the time being they were as absolutely alone and 
free from interruption as if situated at some distant and 
uninhabited locality. 

“ You have attained to an honor enjoyed by very few 
outside the royal family, in the personal regard shown 
to you so singularly to-day. And I wish as a further 
assurance of our regard — I desire to request you as a 
favor to me, to accept this slight token of my ” — here 
he hesitated, producing a magnificent solitaire diamond 
ring, he proceeded — “ of my consideration, I wish I 


HAROLD GODWIN 


154 

might be allowed to say of my affection — yes I will say 
affection, for I can remain silent no longer.” His man- 
ner became animated, his eyes turned and a bright flush 
lit up his cheeks. 

Aphrodite moved as if to arise from the ottoman on 
which they were sitting. 

“ No,” he continued passionately, restraining her so 
that she could not have arisen except by considerable 
effort, “ no, you will not disregard my devotion.” 

“ Your Highness takes me by surprise,” said Aphro- 
dite. 

“ What surprise? ” said the prince. “ Do you mean 
to say that you are now surprised, when for every mo- 
ment of my existence, from the time when I first be- 
held you, your image has received my daily worship, 
and your success and enjoyment here have received my 
studied efforts and constant care.” 

“ For these last I am grateful and thank you much,” 
she replied. 

“ Take then this memento, this little ring as a token 
of my devotion and affection.” 

“ I cannot,” said Aphrodite. 

“ Oh yes you can, and hearken,— as long as you will 
keep it for my sake, I lay at your feet to command, all 
the vast powers that custom and empire have depos- 
ited within my influence. Be careful and consider well 
that influence, which will be vastly greater in the not 
distant future. Know that it is now the dream of the 
statesmen of Europe to mould together the royal 
thrones and families by marriage and alliance, to enrich 
the nobility and to ennoble the rich, to direct by inter- 
national understandings the channels of currency, 
trade and commerce, so that its beneficent fruits shall 
be deluged in superabundance on the favored few, to 
maintain vast standing armies ostensibly because of 
national jealousy, but really to perpetuate the interna- 
tional scheme of general authority, to involve the na- 
tions in debts secured by bonds held by the favored 


HAROLD GODWIN 


155 

classes, and to secure more bonds by international guar- 
antees, in other words to concentrate and secure the 
wealth of the world by governmental action in the 
hands of the favored classes — and in this gigantic com- 
bination it falls to me to exercise a powerful and con- 
trolling influence, and all this I lay at your feet to con- 
trol, modify or extend as you may desire when occa- 
sion demands. It includes frequently the power of 
life and death, to bind and to loose, and whole nations 
and populations, their prosperity, their lives, their liber- 
ties depend upon the machination of a cabal, of which 
I am a principal factor.’’ 

“You charm me with such an exposition of tre- 
mendous power,” said Aphrodite, whose intellectual 
faculties were aroused at the pendency of such gigan- 
tic events. The prince seeing the deep interest mani- 
fested by her rapt attention, proceeded now more 
calmly to interest her spacious intellect. 

“ In your country the genius of Jefferson created the 
idea of a government by the many. In Europe the 
genius of modern Machiavelianism — by controlling 
through unseen hands their means of livelihood, their 
very existence from day to day, controls the many and 
compels them to be as subservient to the will of the 
dominant classes as they were a thousand years ago. 
In your country tbe secret trust is the unseen hand that 
controls the livelihood of the many, and it is only a 
short time distant when you will have there a rich aris- 
tocracy controlling the lower and laboring classes, 
and in entire accord and alliance with the aristocracies 
of Europe. Then will the entire world be dominated 
by the rich and superior classes having their alliances 
and maintaining their standing armies to suppress occa- 
sional rebellion.” 

Now truly was all the power and glory of the world 
exhibited to Aphrodite’s fascinated gaze, to be swayed 
and controlled at her instance and request. Her broad 
intelligence and wide experience assured her of the 


HAROLD GODWIN 


156 

truth of some existing and unseen octopus that was 
powerfully affecting the livelihood and existence of 
the great masses of the people. And to be able to direct 
the actions of this monster, to cause it to throttle the 
supplies and bring famine upon this population, or 
to bring plenty and prosperity upon that, seemed a 
power so extraordinary, so universal, and so dangerous, 
that she seemed for a time appalled at the contempla- 
tion. 

Seeing her deep interest, the prince continued: 

“ It is no longer now a question of nations. Among 
the higher statesmen of to-day, the boundary lines of 
the nations of Europe, of England, of Germany, of Italy, 
of France, are obliterated. It is not a question of the su- 
premacy of this or that nation, but of the supremacy of 
the ruling classes all over the world. And they are band- 
ed together everywhere, and perceive in the established 
reigning families the safest and most powerful means 
of putting into execution the great plan of the universal 
subjection of the inferior to the superior classes. In 
ancient times empires were conquered by force; in 
modern times vaster conquests are silently effected by 
a secret cabal of bankers and merchants; in ancient 
times the dead lay on the field of battle; in modern 
times whole populations writhe and groan and die by 
a well directed famine; in ancient times the enemies 
grappled with each other in coarse affray; now, at an 
elegant supper of the choicest viands and among the 
scent of roses and beneath the banner of Christianity, 
we genteelly issue a regulation of commerce or of cur- 
rency, that blasts human life like contagion and de- 
stroys the poor and unprepared like miserable and un- 
knowing insects, until they yield to the exactions of 
their superiors.” 

“ In truth, what a development of modern states- 
manship,” said Aphrodite. 

The prince continued : “ Machiavelli himself, though 
his unseen methods, imperceptible to the people, have 


HAROLD GODWIN 


157 


been adopted, never dreamed of such gigantic and ab- 
solute conquests, as the kid-gloved cabal of to-day exe- 
cutes under the peaceful guise of currency or com- 
mercial necessity, and the terrible consequences are 
generally so remote from the intending cause, I that the 
acutest intellect not in the actual secret and observing 
its certain results, is unable distinctly to point out the 
connection, and is confounded by the knowing ones 
under the charge of theorists, dreamers and agitators.” 

“ How wonderful,” retorted Aphrodite, “ but where 
is your humanity in this scheme of conquest ? ” 

“Humanity,” said the prince, “and Conquest sel- 
dom form a couple. There is a vast amount of hu- 
manity among the ruling classes of Europe, more so 
than in your country, because they are, I may say, to 
the manor bom, but that spirit of humanity is not per- 
mitted to influence the few who wield the power. You 
see it is a battle not selected by, but forced upon, the 
higher classes by the growing anarchy of republicanism 
of this century. If the latter is permitted to prevail, the 
result will be the destruction of the higher classes, the 
disintegration of wealth and a redistribution upon so- 
cialistic principles of the equality of man. In defense 
and armed as we are by the advantage of existing insti- 
tutions, the higher classes have organized the tremen- 
dous forces of Art, Science and Commerce, and by the 
talisman Wealth are obliged for their own safety to re- 
duce to dependence, poverty and submission those 
classes whose just mission is to labor and to perform in 
loyal obedience the behests of their superiors. You see it 
is a battle royal. On one side royalty, nobility, aris- 
tocracy, established government, wealth, art, science, 
commerce, and all capital, against the miserable labor- 
ing people, sans-culottes, without sense, without dis- 
crimination, without gratitude, or anything else worth 
having or respecting. To which side would you ally 
yourself?” asked the prince. 


158 


HAROLD GODWIN 


“To which side belongs humanity ?” asked Aphro- 
dite. 

“ You ask a difficult question/’ said the prince. 

“ So do you,” replied Aphrodite. 

“ All these things will 1 lay at your feet,” resumed 
the prince. 

Aphrodite had fallen into a profound and contem- 
plative mood. Her eyes were closed as the panorama 
of the present and of the future passed before her 
mind. She beheld before her one of the giants that 
controlled the vast destinies of nations, and with a 
woman’s admiration she was fascinated by his strength 
and power. The prince closely watching the resigna- 
tion of her, expression took in his the motionless hand 
at her side, and as gently placed the splendid ring upon 
her finger. 

Just then the prince happened to look toward the 
door of the salon ; he saw there the approving visage of 
Mr. Gugenhein, the American banker. 

Gugenhein immediately disappeared and as he 
strode away with a cunning smile, he said aloud : 
“ She’s caught a royal flush — good for all the assets in 
my bank.” A moment after the prince closed the door, 
and returned to the side of the still contemplative 
Aphrodite. 

The prince again gently took her hand, without re- 
sistance. His hopes were rising mightily, as he gazed 
on the placid beauty at his side and inwardly pro- 
nounced her supernal perfection worthy the grandest 
effort of royalty.” 

“ Tell me,” she said incoherently, and without mov- 
ing, “ tell me, the famine in India, where wages are 
one and two cents per day — where in the pangs of 
starvation the demented mother tears the insufficient 
morsels of food from her starving children, where the 
emaciated skeletons, without food and without hope 
are gathered together by the government in pens — and 
where organized charity doles out enough to prolong 


HAROLD GODWIN 


159 


their misery but not enough to save — tell me, is this 
one of your devastating and terrible coups ? ” Her 
eyes remained closed as before as if to shut out the 
terrible images that occurred to her mind. 

“ Why assuredly,” resumed the prince. “ The fam- 
ine in India, and I may add the unprecedented suffering 
in your country, were simultaneous and spring from 
the same deliberate cause. In India the object was the 
subjection of the laborer only and the facilitation of 
commerce between India and England upon terms of 
still greater advantage to this country, by the extinc- 
tion of silver currency. But the object in relation to 
your country was more important and far reaching. 
The object there was not only to reach the laborer but 
also the farmer who constitutes the yeomanry of your 
country. It is easy enough to reach the laborer by a 
mandate to the great trusts and corporations through 
the confederated banks to withdraw employment, and 
at once want and starvation seizes upon him and his 
dependents; but to reach and destroy the farmer yeo- 
manry required finer and more complex diplomacy. 
That object is sought to be accomplished, by the pro- 
posed rapid and tremendous decline of land values in 
America, the farmers are if possible to be foreclosed, 
turned out of their possessions and relegated to the 
ranks of labor where they are more easily handled, 
and their lands must go into the friendly hands of the 
rich, loan and trust companies and other corporations, 
whose interests and associations are identified with 
capital and with us. To these great ends we some 
years ago inaugurated the policy which by demonetiz- 
ing one-half the money metal of the world, vastly aug- 
mented the value of the remaining half and in greater 
proportion lowered the money value of the world, at 
the same time the banks who are organized and under 
our control are given the power to issue a currency, 
which when withdrawn at our command, still further 
contracts the currency either in a locality or over en- 


i6o 


HAROLD GODWIN 


tire empires. Whereby the supreme holders of money 
are enabled not only to subject the troublesome classes 
to their will, but in the language of the bourse, to hold 
a corner on the money of the world and at will to spec- 
ulate on the rise or fall of markets, whose rise or fall 
is the calculated result of their own machinations. So 
that the cabal of modern diplomacy not only controls 
the destiny of millions of people by controlling their 
supplies, but possesses the magic power of transferring 
the property of the world from one set of holders to 
another or to themselves as they see fit, in due time 
and by seemingly natural causes.” 

“ And you say that my country will be affected and 
is affected ? ” asked Aphrodite. 

“ Yes. This troublesome thing called the spirit of 
liberty that broke out in France during the last century 
has spent its force and is pretty well regulated in Eu- 
rope, and can do no harm here. The power of royalty 
and the ruling classes in Europe is better established 
and on surer foundations, than it has been for several 
centuries. I will ascend the throne with more loyal 
acclamations and more strongly intrenched with power 
than any English monarch since Henry VIII. The 
silly people and philosophers may talk about the king 
being shorn of his ancient prerogatives, but in modern 
times the foundations of his power are broader than 
his own country and are based for their perpetual main- 
tenance on the allied capital of the world. In your 
country it was different. The spirit of liberty became 
deeply imbued among the masses of your people. And 
if your presidents had chosen to interfere with Euro- 
pean policy, and to foster the discontent of Europe, 
there was a time when your statue of Liberty enlight- 
ening the world might have had an actual significance. 
But you lost your opportunity. Your higher or let 
me say richer classes preferred to ape the titles of the 
European nobility, rather than to practice the simplicity 
of the republic, or to spread its seeds broadcast on 


HAROLD GODWIN 


l6l 


fields that were ready. We thank you for that, and 
now we are ready to extend to you through your gov- 
erning classes the same policies and gradations of rank 
that we have, to subject the poor and unworthy classes 
to their proper sphere and obedience, and to admit your 
rich and ruling classes to a noble equality with the rich 
and ruling classes of Europe.” 

“ Pardon me for a personal question,” said Aphro- 
dite, “ but how does it happen that Your Highness is 
known only as a gentleman of leisure, when I now per- 
ceive that you are a great master in the art or science 
of diplomacy ? ” 

“ Without claiming too much for myself, let me 
point out another distinction between the history of 
the past and that of the present. Formerly the con- 
querors were known by the circumstance and pomp of 
war, now a few gentlemen in a private salon or a 
banker’s parlor, pass a few resolutions affecting the 
fate of millions — and generally the authors of these 
tremendous events prefer to remain in the obscurity 
and uncertainty that characterize the causes them- 
selves.” 

“ One thing more I would ask you,” said Aphrodite, 
“ how do you reconcile these deadly influences with 
the organized charities that are a characteristic feature 
of modem rich society ? ” 

“ Ah,” smiled the prince, “ beneath the sweet name 
of organized charity the most fatal thrust is driven at 
the independence and self reliance of the poor. First 
by lack of employment we drive the farmer and the 
citizen into the ranks of the poor, and then we rob him 
of his self respect by leaving him to become dependent 
upon us for his daily bread and feed him like cattle at 
the soup house of organized charity. When a man 
reaches that stage there is little room left in his bosom 
for the spirit of liberty or rebellion, such qualities are 
more liable to be found in the shame-faced beggar who 
asks his pittance in the shades of night, or the high- 


HAROLD GODWIN 


162 

way robber who forcibly extorts, but in the victims of 
organized charity — never.” 

“ This is indeed the refinement of cruelty,” said 
Aphrodite seriously. 

How far she had dissembled or how far she was 
real, in the former parts of this remarkable conversa- 
tion will never be known. That she was attracted and 
fascinated by the novel recital and adroit diplomat, we 
have much reason to believe. But now she turned 
coldly toward the prince, as she said : 

“ Know, oh Prince, that it ill becomes me as the 
daughter of the people to wear this badge of bondage 
and infamy,” removing the sparkling diamond from 
her finger and placing it at the prince’s side. “ Know 
further that the terrible scheme of devastation and con- 
quest you have recounted is impossible of accomplish- 
ment, though sometimes seemingly successful ; that 
good, not evil, is the necessary corner stone of all hu- 
man achievements. That the Christian motto, ‘ good 
will toward all men/ is a stronger and more permanent 
foundation for existing governments, than the fear, 
hatred and secret malice that poisons the source of 
your machinations. Good alone can in the long run con- 
quer in this world, evil flourishes but for a day to be 
cast thereafter into the oven. Know that the spirit of 
liberty is good and unconquerable, though sometimes 
called by its enemies rebellion and anarchism. In 
America it is intertwined with the woof and warp of 
our constitution, and cannot be extirpated except with 
the extinction of the government itself. Know also 
that besides the American rich who ape the manners 
of European aristocracy, there is a large and powerful 
class of rich persons who are satisfied with and proud 
of the grandeur of the American republic, and who 
would scorn to re-enact the dependence their forefath- 
ers battled to destroy. Know also that the small land 
owners and farmers of America, many of them the de- 
scendants of those who doomed Charles I to the scaf- 


HAROLD GODWIN 


163 

fold, are sturdy, liberty loving, frugal, and virtuous, 
and cannot and will not peaceably be deprived of their 
holdings and forced into bankruptcy and ruin. Your 
scheme is an impossibility, and you are building upon 
a volcano, which it is in the power of American diplo- 
macy to excite into activity and to deluge you and the 
governments of Europe in ruin and extinction. There 
exists now in that country an avenging apostle of 
promise, who made all powerful by the aid of the good 
and liberty loving, will soon have it in his hands not 
only to protect the jeopardized welfare of the poor and 
lowly of America, but like omnipotent Jove shall cast 
amid the nations of Europe the thunderbolts of an- 
archy and disruption, out of which may arise in time 
as after the reign of Terror, the pure, sublime, eternal 
spirit of Liberty.” 

As Aphrodite thus delivered herself she had arisen 
and stood towering over the prince in radiant beauty 
and power. Her splendid health and physical perfec- 
tion, her plain sound logic uttered in a calm, clear, com- 
manding yet feminine tone, made her appear a very 
priestess of liberty. The prince gazed upon her in dis- 
may. As he made no answer, she continued : 

“ Stay your hand, great Prince. Exercise the vast 
influence you possess in the direction of humanity. 
Kneel to that God your mother worships, and ask wis- 
dom to see that evil is a curse, and goodness, kindness, 
a boon; that a government that is not humane cannot 
endure. Imitate that other Prince who humbled Him- 
self before men, that man might be saved, and whose 
royal empire founded upon peace, good will to all men, 
shall only perish when by some terrible cataclysm an 
entire cosmos shall be plunged headlong downward in 
eternal space, or the universe darkened in Erebean ex- 
tinction, and perhaps not even then.” 

A moment before, the prince hoping to wound his 
escaping prey, thought to taunt her with her reported 
incontinence, but the grace, the intellect, the splendor, 


164 


HAROLD GODWIN 


the grandeur of the woman drove the small thought 
away as he stood overwhelmed by the marvelous power 
of her utterance. 

Just then Mr. Gugenhein appeared. He had opened 
the door and entered the room. The great American 
banker was capper for a game he had adroitly organ- 
ized. He needed the prince in his business and inno- 
cent of etiquette had come after him. Aphrodite took 
advantage of this intrusion to withdraw, bowing 
kindly to his royal highness. 

They met no more. Willy’s health which had been 
bad for some time grew seriously worse, and her time 
was largely employed in looking after the wants and 
comforts of the poor sick youth. And within a very 
few days their further trip on the Continent was aban- 
doned as impracticable at that time, and orders given 
to get the yacht in readiness for their return voyage to 
New York. 


CHAPTER XXI 


THE RETURN VOYAGE 

The ocean sleeps. 

That monster that embraces two-thirds of the 
world, sleeps. On his placid bosom he tolerates 
in safety the commerce of nations and the 
lives of human beings. But when aroused and angry 
he dashes into wreckage the navies of strong steel, and 
overwhelms and devours the mariner. Oh, how 
mighty, how beautiful and plastic; how treacherous 
and how rich he is ! Not an atom of spray that flies 
with the passing breeze but is freighted with gold. He 
holds within his watery grasp, in plentiful solution, 
millions of gold, yellow gold, more than Croesus ever 
dreamed of. He steals the ethereal color of the clouds 
and transposes them with new life and motion, to his 
own majestic bosom. He laughs gleefully and chases 
with his waves the graceful crafts that speed over his 
swelling surface. But beware of his change of temper, 
beware of his wrath, his mighty, terrible, fatal wrath. 

In ancient times temples were erected to this deity 
and the mariner and the merchant, before committing 
themselves to his changeful care, sought to propitiate 
him by suitable invocation and sacrifice. In the mod- 
ern prayer book is still to be found some prosaic recog- 
nitions of his might, but the beautiful ceremonies that 
propitiated the pagan god of the ocean now remain, 
embalmed in the perfume of the elegant religion of 
the classics. 

As Aphrodite viewed from her yacht the calm heav- 
ing bosom of the great ocean, she breathed aloud the 
following exquisite stanzas: 

165 


1 66 


HAROLD GODWIN 


“ Monster sleep, still sleep, still sleep. 

Slumber midst your caverns deep 
While the mermaid sings and curls, 

Wreathes your hair with gems and pearls. 

Heed the harp by Heaven strung, 

Feel the spell of siren tongue. 

Happy dream by sleep opprest, 

Happy dream, in peace caressed. 

Monster sleep, nor mark that man 
Hath stretched below with impious hand, 

To snatch the pearls that glisten there 
In many a Nereid’s golden hair. 

Angry God ! no more assuage ; 

See the madness of his rage, 

Hear him lash the trembling main, 

See the wreckage, mourn the slain. 

Angry God! woe worth the day 
That man would snatch your gems away. 
Suspicious now, too oft you rise 
In monstrous anger to the skies. 

But now forget that day and sleep, 

Slumber midst your caverns deep, 

While the mermaid sings and curls, 

Wreathes your hair with gems and pearls.” 

As the last words of the above were uttered, Aphro- 
dite gazed upon the vast expanse of boundless sea and 
fell into a musing mood and posture. She thought of 
the many extraordinary views she had observed in her 
lofty altitudes of high society, and wondered at the 
sentiments expressed and the unscrupulous methods 
practiced by Mrs. Vanderwenter, the Duchess of 
Dundy and lastly those avowed by his highness. Her 
sense of right and justice was much shocked, and she 
found it difficult to reconcile the sentiments expressed 
by these persons with the exercise of good morals or 
proper manners. The violence done by herself to her 
own notions of morals and manners, did not seem 


HAROLD GODWIN 


167 

upon fair consideration to be so dangerously contrived 
against the welfare of the world, as the sentiments, 
morals and manners cultivated by that more fashiona- 
ble society she had been brought in contact with 
through her marriage. She did not try to justify her- 
self, but she could not accept as right and proper what 
she had observed in others, and discovered at last that 
her reflections were melancholy and painful. So often 
is the petted darling of society, the secret prey of con- 
tending emotions. 

Willy had presently requested her presence and she 
retired promptly below to his stateroom. There 
stretched upon a bed of pain and amid a foam of down 
and white silks, lay the languishing form of her young 
husband. 

“ I have asked you to come,” he said gently, “ that 
I might say to you something that I otherwise might 
have withheld in order not to alarm you.” 

She noticed for the first time the increased pallor of 
his complexion, and sympathetically extended her hand 
upon his forehead. He smiled and closed his eyes, as 
if resting peacefully. The charm of her touch dispelled 
pain. “ How long have you been thus seriously ill, 
Willy ? ” she said warmly. “ Why have I not been no- 
tified? I thought you absented yourself under pre- 
tense of indisposition, in order to avoid the demands 
and annoyances of uncongenial society. I had no idea 
that you were so ill. I should have been properly in- 
formed and not kept in the dark. My poor boy ! ” And 
again her tender sympathy for the sick frail creature 
welled from her eyes, thrilled through her gentle fin- 
gers and brought to his brow relief — repose. 

With a smile he said, “ I should not talk much ; my 
physician who has just retired so commands me, but 
it is my duty to say to you that I may not live even 
through this short voyage.” 

“ Oh you shall, you shall ; yield not to such fancies,” 
said Aphrodite impulsively. 


HAROLD GODWIN 


1 68 

“ No,” he replied, “ my prostration has rapidly in- 
creased; I know it and I saw just now a deep dark 
cloud hovering over you and also over me, and when 
your hand touched my forehead, it faded away.” 

“ I shall keep the cloud away,” she said, trying to 
smile. “ I would scold you for keeping me so long in 
ignorance, but from now I shall be your constant 
nurse.” 

“ Tell mother,” he said, “ we went to the Duchess 
of Dundy’s.” He smiled and fell asleep ; and she mused 
that again the heartless demands of society exacted 
perhaps another victim. 

As Willy slept she summoned the physician who 
confirmed Willy’s words and her own sudden alarm. 
The only explanation she could obtain for the strange 
concealment of his condition, was Willy’s strict injunc- 
tion that the pleasure of her visit should not be marred 
by intelligence of his illness and that the wishes of his 
mother might be observed in all things. 

The iron will of the society mother became a fea- 
ture in the mortal illness of her son. When his eyes 
opened and he beheld Aphrodite a gentle smile rested 
on his lips, and though the skill of the physician could 
not stay the steady sinking of. vitality, still the gentle 
influence and sympathy of beauty won repose for the 
soothed senses of the sufferer. 

Deeply interested now in the noble, womanly duty of 
alleviating sickness and suffering Aphrodite remained 
night and day at the bedside of her husband. 

A few days later she received a report from the cap- 
tain that the storm which had for some time been pend- 
ing and driving the vessel out of her course, had grown 
worse and more threatening. 

“ Ah,” said Aphrodite to herself, “ the Ocean God 
is angry again at the impiety of man.” 

The condition of the sick was not benefited by 
the increased violence of the gale. The lash of the 


HAROLD GODWIN 


169 

waves, the shrieking of the cordage, the tramping of 
the sailors, were unusual sounds that penetrated the 
rich upholsteries of the stateroom. The vessel rose 
and fell and rolled with the mountainous waves with- 
out, and her splendid strength was taxed to the utmost 
to duly minister to Willy’s safety and comfort. 

Startled at some unusual sound, he would spring 
into wakefulness with eyes wild-staring with life’s fit- 
ful fever, and then he would close them again gently 
and with a trustful smile, at Aphrodite’s touch and 
voice so sweetly reassuring. 

Death and wealth had met in unequal combat. The 
grim visage sat unseen at the bedside. The grip he 
held on the heart, the lungs and the brain of his vic- 
tim became firmer, except when at the touch of gen- 
tleness, youth and beauty, the poor youth felt the 
warmth of recurring life, only to be replaced by the 
persistent grasp of the cold, icy hand extending out of 
the unseen. 

Death laughs at the wealthy, for with droll humor 
he knows how few would return from the unknown 
bourne seasonably but to find their possessions dis- 
tributed among their sorrowing relatives and friends, 
and if they did return what would they do, bereft of 
their wealth ? 

On the next day the captain reported that the vio- 
lence of the storm had increased, that the steering ap- 
paratus was becoming unmanageable and the danger 
to the vessel became greater. 

On the evening of the same day, the captain reported 
that the steering apparatus was broken and useless and 
the vessel now abandoned to the fury of the waves; 
that the crew including himself and physician would 
embark in the remaining life boats and exhorted her 
to accompany them if she would save her life. 

“ Take him then first,” she said, pointing to the mo- 
tionless figure. 


HAROLD GODWIN 


170 

“ Madame,” the captain replied, “ we can assume no 
useless burthens, it is now a last question of life or 
death for us. Will you go ? ” 

“ I will not unless he goes before me,” she answered. 

“ It is impossible madame, farewell. May God pro- 
tect you — and us.” The captain departed. 

In a short time thereafter all hands abandoned the 
doomed vessel, and alone with her charge was left the 
beautiful Aphrodite, accompanied by the Grim Visage 
that still remained patiently waiting for his victim, and 
surrounded by the surging and angry waves. 

In so short a time the beautiful star of the social dia- 
dem, flattered and courted by Press and princes, be- 
came a deserted waif on the angry bosom of the relent- 
less ocean. Who so poor, so beggarly, so desperate 
that would take her place now ? 

And yet deserted as she was, surrounded by death 
and danger, without a murmur, without complaint, this 
undaunted woman turned steadfastly to her kindly du- 
ties to the dying. 


CHAPTER XXII 


RESTORED TO THE SEA 

John the faithful had returned to New York and ac- 
complished by the help of Delnot, and Warren, the diffi- 
cult missions intrusted to his care. Among the most 
difficult were the negotiations with Mr. Prettiman for 
the repurchase of Hillstone. That worthy gentleman, 
notwithstanding the general decline of values, insisted 
upon and received the celebrated one per cent, return 
for his investment. The negotiations were at an end 
and John had called at his office to pay the money and 
receive the deed. 

“ How does your master make all that money ? ” 
said Prettiman, his nose dilating, his eyes spark- 
ling and his lips snickering as he gloated over the pile 
of packages of purchase money. 

“ My master don’t make money, he spends it,” re- 
plied John coldly. 

“ Gad, what a man ! ” exclaimed Prettiman, won- 
dering. “ He has been spending money like a prince 
all his life; and now when the knowing ones thought 
he was bankrupt, he sends back and repurchases Hill- 
stone for twice what it sold for and more than it’s 
worth.” 

“ Mr. Harold is not concerned about the worth of 
Hillstone. He was born there, and also his ancestors 
before him for many generations.” 

Said Prettiman, “ I thought so ; there was something 
about the house oppressive, like a weight of dignity, 
that I couldn’t stand. I wish him joy of his bargain, 
and I am satisfied.” Saying this, he handed to John the 
171 


HAROLD GODWIN 


172 

deeds, which had 'been lying on the table, duly executed 
and approved. 

“ One thing I would like to know,” said John hesi- 
tatingly as if he took some serious risk in the answer. 

“ What is it ? ” said Prettiman. 

“ Did you, during your ownership ever stop at or 
sojourn in the premises?” this was asked slowly and 
seriously. 

“ I just told you,” replied Prettiman, “ that I 
couldn’t endure the cold stateliness or something of 
the place. It gave me the horrors. I never went there 
but once, and a few minutes sufficed, for I returned 
on the first train to New York.” _ 

“ Thank God,” replied John relieved. “ I think Mr. 
Harold will give you another hundred thousand.” 

“ What’s that for ? ” inquired Prettiman curiously. 

“ Nothing. Everything. You wouldn’t understand. 
The chances are he will,” said John, now smiling, en- 
tirely satisfied with the repurchase, and taking his 
leave. 

“ Funny man,” said Prettiman, “ talks in riddles.” 

The Deacon who had silently sat and listened to the 
dialogue between Prettiman and John, now remarked: 
“ So you don’t understand the last allusion Pretti- 
man ? ” 

“ Can’t say that I do,” replied Prettiman. 

“He meant that it was worth another hundred thou- 
sand dollars to his master to know that you had not 
inhabited his house and desecrated his premises, with 
your personal occupancy, as he regards it,” said the 
Deacon. 

“Well, what of that?” asked Prettiman, still at a 
loss. 

“ How would you like to have a cold clammy snake 
crawl up your pants’ leg, envelope your body, and ex- 
ude its sickening odors between your nose and lips ? ” 

“ God you make my flesh crawl,” said Prettiman. 

“ Well that’s the way he means his master and his 


HAROLD GODWIN 


V2> 

kind feels toward you and your kind,” said the Dea- 
con. 

“ He pays me well for it,” said Prettiman, “ so Pm 
satisfied. He pays for having sentiments and I am 
paid for having none. Business men have no business 
with sentiments,” and he snickered and went away with 
his bank notes. 

On the same evening at a late hour the flower girl 
we have met before was accosted by a figure that came 
suddenly out of the darkness of the corner near by. 
He was elegantly dressed in black, and long dark 
twisted curls fell on his forehead and partially concealed 
his features. It might be a wig. “ Do you know me ? ” 
he asked. 

The girl looked intently and answered, “ No, I 
don’t.” She noticed the blanched paleness of his 
cheeks. 

“I owe you some money, do you remember?” he 
said. 

“ I do not remember,” replied the girl. 

“ Look at me close and see if you know me.” 

Again the girl failed to identify him. The speaker 
seemed pleased. 

“ I wish to pay back my debt. Here’s dollars for 
cents,” and without counting, before the astonished 
girl could refuse or remonstrate, he handed her a pack- 
age and disappeared. 

The following morning’s papers gave an account of 
the sudden death of the multi-millionaire Prettiman. It 
was uncertain from the character of the wound and the 
position of the body, whether he was the victim of sui- 
cide or murder. A small red rose was found near the 
body. 

Also on the same morning John had called at Mr. 
Delnot’s to report his doings. Warren was also there. 

“ Now that you have everything done that Mr. God- 
win required, I suppose you are ready soon to return 
to his island,” said Delnot. 


174 


HAROLD GODWIN 


“ If you are ready sir/’ replied John, “ we will start 
to-morrow.” 

“ I am ready and Mr. Warren will go also ; so you 
may be here at the hour and we will start together. Is 
there anything you would wish for Mr. Godwin or 
yourself, before going? ” asked Delnot kindly. 

“ Nothing Mr. Delnot that I think of, thanks. Good 
night sir/’ and John departed. 

On the following morning the faithful friends and 
the faithful servant departed on their pilgrimage of 
devotion. Delnot and Warren had concluded to visit 
Harold in his retreat, for a few days before they should 
return together to Hillstone, and to the great metrop- 
olis. 

The journey to the island was pleasant but without 
important incident, and we pass over the joy of the 
friends on the first evening of their meeting after so 
long an absence. The topics of conversation were many 
and interesting, but principal of all was Aphrodite’s 
marriage, the procession of glory from this country to 
England, and her unequalled triumphs in the latter, 
all of which had been duly reported for the benefit of 
society, also was mentioned the great railroad scheme 
placed in Europe by Gugenhein, banker, and at a 
late hour they retired to their respective apartments. 
On the next morning the waking members of the house- 
hold became aware of the prevalence of a tremendous 
storm. 

As they gazed from their windows they beheld the 
raging ocean lashed into fury with numberless white- 
caps and vast spreading mountain waves. At the 
outer reefs these waves met and whirled into mad lofty 
geysers of spray and white foam. The angry roar re- 
sounded upon the beach, and the strong wind beat vio- 
lently at the sides and cornices of the snug built cot- 
tage. All the evidences were present of a vast and 
general tempest. 

As Harold contemplated the grand scene, he seemed 


HAROLD GODWIN 


175 

to imbibe its tumultuous spirit. Caught with the in- 
fection of the unloosed spirits of the storm, he left the 
house and went with the wind to the remotest corners 
of the beach. Happily he lifted his brow and received 
upon it the spray kisses of the angry ocean, with smiling 
eyes he watched the vast waves rolling and breaking in 
sprinkled gems at his feet, and his delighted ear caught 
the deep resounding music of the wild thunder of the 
coast. 

“ I have had a charming walk this morning,” he said 
to his friends that afternoon. 

“ You must enjoy the storm/’ said Delnot, “ it seems 
to exhilarate you.” 

“ I presume it is because one gets tired of sunshine 
on this enchanted island,’^ said Delnot. 

For one, two, three days the storm continued with 
unabated fury, when on the fourth Harold discerned 
a vessel on the horizon. The fury of the winds and 
waves was driving her in the direction of the island. 
At first she appeared like a little black dot now rising 
upon a mountain wave, now sinking out of sight, but 
gradually as she came nearer the outlines of the vessel 
became apparent. The vessel was evidently derelict — 
abandoned to the mercy of the waves, for no smoke 
issued from her battered funnels, and she drifted aim- 
lessly, a thing without intelligence or control. 

Delnot and Warren had by this time joined Harold 
on the beach. “ A derelict ship is like a derelict man, 
aimlessly drifting before the storms of life,” said Del- 
not. 

“ Humanity has more tolerance for the ship than for 
the man,” said Warren. 

“ It’s a difference of seeing,” replied Delnot. “If 
we were free from moral obliquity ourselves, and were 
capable of viewing in its full proportions the grand 
ruin of a human soul, abandoned to the winds and 
waves of adversity, most men would rush to the res- 
jcue. But we are blinded by our own obliquity and pass 


HAROLD GODWIN 


176 

unnoticed the grand moral derelict while we follow 
with eager interest and expectancy the derelict vessel. 
Our senses control our morals.” 

“ After all I don’t believe this vessel is entirely dere- 
lict. I think I saw just now a white object in motion,” 
said Harold, who had intently watched the approaching 
vessel. 

“ Where ? ” asked Delnot. 

“ There on the after deck,” said Harold. “ Don’t 
you see it ? ” 

In vain his friends peered across the watery deep; 
they could see nothing. 

“ It is a phantom,” said Warren thoughtlessly. 

The vessel was now drifting rapidly before the wind. 

“ She is at a danger point now,” said Harold. “ See 
the monstrous waves lashing together and grating up- 
wards on either side. Those are the reefs, which if 
she touches, she is doomed immediately.” 

Every one stood almost breathless as they watched 
the vessel drifting between the threatening Scylla and 
Charybdis. In a few moments she had passed between 
them and into the deep inner channel. 

“ And yet she is doomed, look at her water lines ; she 
must be leaking badly,” said Warren. 

“ She cannot last much longer,” said Harold, “ she 
must soon sink.” 

“ The derelict goes from one danger to another, as 
usual,” said Delnot. 

From the point where the watchers were standing, 
there stretched out into the channel a vast stone break- 
water. It was not at that time visible owing to the 
accumulated waters that the violence of the wind had 
heaped up on the shore, but over and around it the 
waves surged and massed with greater fury than else- 
where. This breakwater was constructed to protect the 
island from the invasions of destructive undercurrents, 
and now against it the waters dashed their concentrated 
forces as if determined first to overwhelm this strategic 


HAROLD GODWIN 


177 


obstacle and then easily to devour the yielding sands be- 
yond. Against it all the mad currents seemed to be 
directed and toward it desolately and grimly floated the 
now nearly submerged vessel. 

“ She is doomed again,” said Harold, “ she will 
strike the breakwater,” and a few moments later with 
a tremendous shock, the steamer fell heavily upon the 
projecting rocks. 

“ It will soon be over,” said Warren, “ she must 
soon go to pieces.” 

“ Heavens,” suddenly cried Delnot, “ Harold you are 
right. There’s a woman on board,” as the white figure 
of a woman appeared aft. 

By this time some of the attendants that had come 
from the city with Delnot and Warren had arrived. 

“ Come,” said Harold, “ we must rescue. There is 
some life saving apparatus and tackle at the house.” 

With the aid of willing and in some instances, dex- 
terous hands, no time was lost in obtaining the appar- 
atus, and in a little while longer it was duly planted, 
and such coils and tackle as they had were arranged 
for action. 

By this time the vessel which had heaved broadside 
to the storm was thumping heavily against the rocks. 

At the word the life line was shot out and with ex- 
cellent aim fell amidship of the vessel, and was soon 
seized and began to be drawn in by the figure on board 
the wreck. 

“ Bravo,” cried Warren, “ Bravo. Hope and life 
are couples.” 

“ So are courage and danger, sometimes,” said Del- 
not. 

A large rope had been now drawn to the vessel and 
secured. But here the willing rescuers looked askance 
at each other. 

“ Where is the receptacle to be suspended on the ca- 
ble to be drawn to the vessel?” asked Warren. 

“ There is none,” said Harold. 


178 


HAROLD GODWIN 


“ All is done that can be done, and we are no nearer 
our object/' said Warren, now greatly excited. 

Harold motioned the figure to make firm the fasten- 
ings of the cable on board the ship, and in another mo- 
ment and without a word of warning he dashed into 
the raging waves. 

With the aid of the rope he kept himself from being 
driven out of his course, and from being dashed into the 
rocks and undercurrents of the breakwater. With steady 
nerves, a firm heart and a smiling face that seemed to 
enjoy the wild gracefulness of the waves he breasted, 
Harold gradually drew nearer and nearer to the fated 
steamer. Presently he began to observe something fa- 
miliar about the figure he was approaching, the curved 
outlines, the grace of motion and posture, the sweet 
smile as brave in the presence of danger as his own, 
and which now full of mutual recognition shone 
through the storm with the rays of a warmer sun than 
Saturn — this was Aphrodite. And his heart beat full 
and free as the strong arms drew him swiftly to the 
side of the sinking ship on whose deck he soon stood a 
conquering hero in the presence of the queen of love 
and beauty. 

With a heaving bosom Aphrodite snatched his hand 
and pressed it to her lips. 

“ Come Aphrodite," he said, “ come with me." 

“ No,” she replied, “ my duty. Not before him." 
And she pointed to the cabin below. 

In a moment Plarold had passed into the cabin and 
taking up the fainting invalid and bringing him upon 
his back like the ancient Aeneas, plunged with him into 
the yeasty billows. To leave him there was certain 
death, and he knew that Aphrodite was right and noble 
in her act, and that remonstrance would not avail. Ter- 
rible and slow was the passage on the return. Clinging 
to the helpless burthen of humanity, more than once the 
lives of both hung on the slenderest circumstance of 


HAROLD GODWIN 


129 


strength or nerve. But on, on, he prevailed till at last 
they were met by Delnot and Warren, who had at great 
danger come into the waves as far as possible to aid 
their friend and take his burden. 

“ O do not return,” implored Warren. 

“ I must,” gently replied Harold. And in a few mo- 
ments he had begun again the perilous return to the 
ship. 

It was evident to all that the ship must soon foun- 
der and sink from view. 

In a comparatively short time in view of the diffi- 
culties and circumstances, Harold had reached the ship, 
but with every moment the danger was visibly increas- 
ing. 

The mutual look of admiration that passed between 
these two singular persons as they beheld each other 
now standing on the very precipice of destruction, the 
mutual recognition of noble and divine qualities that 
made them superior to life and death itself, the sublime 
composure with which they towered over the storm, 
the raging ocean and the vessel sinking beneath their 
feet, was a strange commentary on the prejudices and 
sentiments that had fatally separated them. 

For the first time Aphrodite thought she discerned 
in Harold’s lingering eyes, the certain expression of 
love returned, and she felt then a thrill of pleasure un- 
known to her before. 

* Will we go ? ” asked Harold. 

“ Yes,” she said. 

“ Then follow me.” 

“ I will,” she replied. And calmly they began their 
descent. Harold was not without hope. He had ab- 
solute confidence in Aphrodite’s enduring nerve and 
strength, and if the vessel should survive long enough 
to maintain the seaward end of the cable he believed 
they should safely reach their destination. But the 
waves were as angry as ever and the storm blew with 
unabated fury, and the vessel seemed in the last throes 


i8o 


HAROLD GODWIN 


of dissolution. Surrounded by these dangers they had 
reached about the middle of the cable. 

“ Look yonder,” said Warren, pointing seaward. 

The terrified watchers beheld sweeping toward them 
from the bosom of the sea a vast and mountainous bil- 
low, rearing its darkened crest so far above the sur- 
rounding waste, that the rest of the ocean seemed to 
shrink beneath its omnivorous power. On, on, it came 
in stupendous grandeur, and instinctively they felt that 
the supreme moment had arrived. Crushing, foaming, 
hissing, it bore high upon its mountainous bosom in 
bold relief the vessel, the cable and its sacred freight 
of life. It broke upon the shore with a sullen roar of 
satisfaction. After it had subsided, there was nothing 
left for the eye to dwell on but the dreary waste of 
surging waters, flecked with the foam of retiring 
waves. 

At the last moment Delnot caught sight of Aphro- 
dite’s face; it was turned toward Harold’s, and was 
wreathed with an ineffable smile of tender happiness. 
The waves passed over them. “ From the sea she 
sprung; to the sea she has returned,” said Delnot sol- 
emnly. 

No human eye ever beheld those lovely forms again. 
The storm as if satisfied with its tragedy relented the 
next day, and the beautiful sun bathed in summer rays 
the peaceful island; but the ocean retained its treas- 
ures and it is possible that the Ocean God appeased 
in his wrath, when he came to behold the unutterable 
beauty of his victims, repented of his hasty violence and 
endowed them with divine life and caused them to dwell 
again in more than mortal happiness in that land — 

******* j n t k e sun b r jghf- deep, 

Where golden gardens glow, 

Where the winds of the North becalmed in sleep 
Their conk-shells never blow.” 


HAROLD GODWIN 


181 

Willy never recovered from the shock of that terrible 
day, and a magnificent mausoleum now adorns the spot 
where rests the remains of one of the least harmful of 
mankind. 

The faithful John who perceived in all these events 
the punishing hand of Providence, carried out to the 
letter the provisions of Harold’s will found among his 
effects whereby Hillstone became a hospital and the 
treasures of the Pirate’s Cave, became a fund for the 
benefaction of suffering humanity. At this place John 
tarried during the short remainder of his life, and was 
thereafter buried at his own request at the foot of his old 
master’s grave. 


FINIS 































































































































































































































































Forty Popular Books. 


We call your special attention to the following list of 
copyright books written by popular authors, printed on 
best laid paper and bound in heavy paper covers. 

Any of these books can be obtained from your book- 
seller, or they will be sent by mail postpaid to any address 
on receipt of price, 50 cents each, by J. S. Ogilvie Pub- 
lishing Company, 5t Rose Street, New York. 


Any of these Books can be obtained from your bookseller, or they 
will be sent by mail postpaid to any address on receipt of 
75 Cents each for the cloth edition, or 50 Cents each for the 
paper covered edition, by J. S. OGILVIE PUBLISHING 
COMPANY, 57 Rose Street, New York. 


No. 1. ASENATH OF THE FORD. By “Rita.” 12mo, 
358 pages. 

The reputation of this popular author is sufficient to ex- 
pect a good story, and no one will be disappointed in this one. 

No. 2. A SECRET QUEST, By George Manville Fenn. 
12mo, 349 pages. 


No. 3. A MODERN DICK WHITTINGTON. By James 

Payn, author of “ For Cash Only,” “A Prince of the 
Blood,” “By Proxy,” “Lost Sir Massingberd,” etc., 
etc. 12mo, 334 pages. 


The story, in Its plot, holds the attention closely. Sir Charles is admirably 
drawn, as are the women characters. There is much of terse epigram and deter 
satire, here and there, which adds piquancy to the story .—Boston Times. 

— 1 


No. 4. ALONE ON A WIDE, WIDE SEA: An Ocean 
Mystery. By W. Clark Russell, author of “My 
Danish Sweetheart, ” ‘ 1 The Golden Hope, ” etc. 12mo, 
348 pages. 

The story is exciting. Women will read the story with peculiar interest and solemn, 
ly resolve never, never again to remove their wedding ring .— New York Herald. 

The story is powerfully told and marks a new departure by the author.— New 
York Tt'ibune. 

The book is one of the freshest and most delightful of W. Clark Russell's sea 
stories.— Boston Traveller. 

Altogether, it is a moving tale and very instructive as to sea life.— Brooklyn 
Citizen. 


No. 5. A LOYAL LOVER. By Mrs. E. Lovett Cameron; 
author of “This Wicked World,” “ Deceivers Ever,” 
etc. 12mo, 294 pages. 


Strongly dramatic, cleverly managed, well written, with a tragedy developed with 
much power . — Boston Saturday Evening Gazette. 

No. 6. A HARD LESSON. By Mrs. E. Lovett Cameron, 
author of “ In a Grass Country,” “A Life’s Mistake,” 
etc. 12mo, 343 pages. 

Mrs. Cameron has written many good books, but none 
better than this. 

A charming story, graceful in style, crowded with incidents, often very dramatic 
though never sensational in the bad sense.— American Bookseller. 

No. 7. A DOUBLE LIFE. By Ella Wheeler Wilcox, 
author of ‘ ‘ Poems of Passion,” etc. 12mo, 306 pages. 

In all of Mrs. Wilcox’s writings she has done no bettei 
work than she has in this volume. She is one of the American 
authors that hold a high place in the opinion of the best critics. 

No. 8. A MODERN BRIDEGROOM. By Mrs. Alexander 
Frazer. l2mo, 312 pages, 


No. 9. A TYPICAL AMERICAN ; An Anonymous 

American Story. 12mo, 256 pages. 

In this story the hero illustrates in his own person the 
unique qualities and see-saw experiences of our ambitious 
public men. He is encircled by troops of friends, flatterers 
and foes, in society, in politics and in the press. The por- 
traiture and the ever-varying play of these characters around 
the central figure make up a comedy-drama of daily life a3 
sparkling and faithful as anything now current in fiction or 
on the stage. 

No. 10. BACK TO LIFE; A Story of a Mistake. By 

T. W. Speight. 12mo, 254 pages. 


A sensational novel, brightly written .— New York Independent. 

Will attract readers of the best class .—American BookseUer. 

Very well told .— Springjleld Republican. 

No. 11. “ BEATRICE AND BENEDICK.” By Hawley 
Smart. 12mo, 211 pages. 

This is a soldier’s love story, with a dash of sport, and 
is in this popular author’s happiest vein and most character- 
istic style. 

No. 12. BOB MARTIN’S LITTLE GIRL. By David C. 
Murray. 12mo, 383 pages. 

This is a fascinating book by a popular author. 

No. 13. CONSTANCE. By F. C. Philips, author of 
“ Jack and Three Gills,” “ The Dean and Ili.' 
Daughter,” “As In a Looking Glass,” etc. 12ino, 
305 pages. 

A story of extraordinary interest and dramatic power. 

No. 14. GRAVE LADY JANE. By Florence Warden, 
author of “The House On The Marsh,” etc. 12mo, 
320 pages, ” 


— 3 — 


No. 15. HER MAD LOVE. By Gerald Carlton. 12mo, 
282 pages. 

No. 16. THE HUNTING GIRL. By Mrs. Edward 
Kennard, author of “Pretty Kitty Herrick,” etc. 12 
mo, 374 pages. 

No. 17. IN THE DAYS OF THE MUTINY. By G. A. ( 

Henty. 12mo, 397 pages. 


The book has a very clever and interesting plot. The scene is laid in India. The 
story is told in an easy, graceful, effective style. The characters are living beings, 
and the final ending is fitting .— The Boston Republic. 

It is a well told story of the great mutiny in India .— Syracuse Herald. 

No 18. INSCRUTABLE. By Esme Stuart. 12mo, 298 
pages. 

No. 19. LADY VERNER’S FLIGHT. By “The Duchess.” 
12mo, 310 pages. 


The girl next door will have this book within three days. It is a pure story of 
English life, in which there is the most delightfully villainous villain, who dies at 
Just the right time, and there are no less than three love affairs going on at the same 
time .— New York Recorder. 

No one of the popular fiction writers Is more delightfully interesting than the 
“ Duchess,” and in “ Lady Yerner’s Flight ” she quite surpasses her own standard 
of entertaining literature. The story is told with the animation and humor char 
acteristic of this writer, and will be enjoyed by grave statesmen and Jurists and men 
of affairs who desire to give themselves mental relaxation — The Boston Beacon . 

No. 20. THE LAST SIGNAL. By Dora Bussell, author 
of “ The Other Bond,” etc. 12mo, 311 pages. 

No. 21. MR. AND MRS. HERRIES. By May Crommelin. 
12mo, 250 pages. 


No. 22. MAYFLOWER TALES. By Julian Hawthorne, 
Grant Allen, Richard Dowling and George R. 
Sims. 12mo, 276 pages. 


4 


No. 23. “ OUT AT TWINNETT’S ” By John Habber- 
ton, author of “Helen’s Babies.” 12mo, 283 pages. 


This is a well told and thoroughly readable romance of 
New York life. Mr. Habberton’s direct and unaffected style 
was never shown to better advantage than in this drama, 
which possesses an added interest by the fact that the scene is 
laid on the Sound, and some of its characters are graphic 
word-pictures of the quaint folk still to be found along that 
coast. 

No. 24. ONE TOUCH OF NATURE. By Margaret 
Lee. 12mo, 300 pages. 


One lays down the book with the sense of having made pleasant acquaintances. 

^-New York Advertiser . 

Plenty of thrilling sensations that give it a refreshing vigor.— Philadelphia Item. 

An intensely Interesting story .— Pittsburg Press. 

A medal should be given to the author of this thrilling story.— St. Louis Republic. 

A bright little story that keeps the heart sweet and glad all the way through.— 

Detroit News. 

No. 25. PRETTY KITTY HERRICK, A Dashing Story 
of Love and Sport. By Mrs. Edward Kennard, 
author of “A Real Good Thing,” “The Girl in the 
Brown Habit,” “Killed in the Open,” “Matron or 
Maid,” “Straight as a Die,” etc. 12mo, 407 pages. 


No. 26. THE PEER AND THE WOMAN. By E. Phillips 
Oppenheim. 12mo, 259 pages. 

A highly sensational but quite unobjectionable romance 
of fashion and passion. 

An interesting and extremely intrioate story of crime and detention .— New York 
Herald. 

An excellent story that will be read with pleasure by lovers of Gaboriau.— = 
Chicago Mail. 

A powerful story, abounding in plot and well told .— Toronto Farm, 

There isn’t a dull page in it .— Lancaster New Era. 

— 5 — 


NOo 27. SIR ANTHONY’S SECRET; or, A False Posi- 
tion— The Story of a Mysterious Marriage. Bji 

Adeline Sergeant, author of 1 ‘Roy’s Repentance, * 
“The Great Mill Street Mystery,’’ “No Saint,” etc. 
12mo, 528 pages. 


Miss Sergeant’s books find a warm welcome wherever her dramatic and orlgT 
nal style Is known. This is her latest novel and Is one of her best efforts.— .fioston 
Herald. 

No. 28. SWEET IS REVENGE: A Sensational Novel. 

By J. Fitzgerald Molloy, author of 1 1 That Villain 
Romeo,” “How Came He Dead?” etc., etc. 12mo, 
291 pages. _ _ 

This little romance will find plenty of admirers .— Pittsburg Bulletin. 

Wholesome and well flavored .— Minneapolis Tribune. 

No. 29. TINKLETOFS CRIME. By George R. Sims, 
author of “ Ostler Joe,” “Mary Jane’s Memoirs,” etc. 
12mo, 316 pages. 

No. 30. THE SORCERESS. By Mrs. Oliphant. 12mo, 
382 pages. Bound in cloth, with onyx side, 75 cents. 

No. 31. THROUGH PAIN TO PEACE. By Sarah Doud- 
ney. 12 mo, 380 pages. 


No. 32. TWO LOYAL LOVERS. By Elizabeth W. 
Johnson. 12mo, 381 pages. 

No. 33. THE OTHER BOND. By Dora Russell, author 
of “Foot-prints on the Snow,” “The Broken Seal,” 
“A Bitter Birthright,” “The Track of the Storm,” 
“A Fatal Post,” etc., etc. 12mo, 372 pages. 

A pathetic, even tragic story .— Brooklyn Eagle. 

A well'told, English story, full of exciting incidents, and presenting some very 
strong character drawing .— Boston Home Journal. 

A most entertaining story .— Boston Daily Traveller, > 


— ft — 


No. 34. THE OLD MILL MYSTERY. By A. W. March- 

mont. 12mo, 246 pages. 


No. 35. THE MAN FROM THE WEST. By A Wall 

Street Man. 12mo, 246 pages. 

This book created a great sensation, and has been drama- 
tized for production on the stage. Every American should 
read it. 

No. 38. UP FROM THE CAPE. By Aunt Desire. 12 
mo, 252 pages. 

This is one of the most interesting books issued for a long 
time, and will make a record for itself. 

No. 37. VANITY'S DAUGHTER. By Hawley Smart. 
12:no, 320 pages. 


No. 38. WELL OUT OF IT. By John Habberton, 
author of “Helen’s Babies,” etc., etc. 12mo, 256 
pages. 

An intensely interesting story.— Pittsburg Press. 

A medal should be given to the author of this thrilling story.— St. Louis Republic. 
A bright little story that keeps the heart sweet and glad all the way through. - 

Detroit News. 


No. 39. WELL WON. By Mrs. Alexander. 12mo, 256 
pages. 

Full of snap and interest and altogether equal to anything 
written by this popular author. 

A clever and merry little story.— New York Herald. 

A capital domestic comedy.— New York Advertiser. 

This little romance will find plenty of admirers.— Pittsburg Bulletin. 

No. 40. THE ADVENTURES OF A BASHFUL BACHE- 
LOR. By Clara Augusta. 12mo, 288 pages. 


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